What works, what doesn’t, and what to avoid.
When you near your due date — or blow past it — there's a good chance that you're more than ready for it all to be over.
The general discomfort, back pain, exhaustion, and desire to MEET. THAT. BABY. can be overwhelming.
Heather Spohr / Via Flickr: plasticcandy
Because of this, Pinterest is full of all kinds of tips, tricks, and recipes to help you induce labor. But do they work? And are they safe for you and your baby?
IMPORTANT NOTE: You should never try to induce labor before 39 weeks, and only after speaking to your doctor.
Exercise/walking
According to Lamppa, walking and other forms of exercise — like doing the "Thriller" dance — have not been proven to induce or even speed up labor. And while getting exercise is good and can be a comfort at the end of pregnancy, it's important not to exhaust yourself.
"When someone who might be in early labor says, 'I’m going to go walking the malls or on a long walk,' I really caution them against it," Lamppa says. "We don’t want them to go on a walk for three miles, and then have their body decide to kick into labor a few hours later when their body is still exhausted from the walking."
Does it work? No.
Are there potential risks? Yes.