When I was pregnant, I felt that doing everything naturally was best for my baby. But by the time my due date came around, I felt that I had been pregnant so long, I would have taken any drug, or done anything to get things going. However... even though I was beside myself with the anticipation of meeting our baby, I wanted to try natural ways to induce labor.

I am talking about being about 18 months pregnant, in the month of August, feeling as large as a house, sweaty, and swollen everywhere! Are you with me so far?

Anyways, we asked our midwife what some natural ways to induce labour were and she said, "Well, you could try having intercourse..."

Dead silence. We just looked at each other and then said, "Oh. What else?" That was the last thing on our minds at that point! But, actually, they say that the prostaglandins in semen are one of the natural ways to induce labour. So if you are up for it, give it a try.

Other natural ways to induce labor include: power walking, eating spicy foods, and nipple stimulation. (But I would not recommend them all at the same time.)

I remember reading somewhere that pineapple is a natural way to induce labor so when my sister-in-law was anxious to induce her labor, she ate pineapple on pepperoni pizza and she went into labor the very next day! But maybe it was her time; I just don't know. Keep in mind, that really and truly, no one is ever pregnant forever; it just feels that way sometimes. Your due date is actually just a number they give you and they say that delivering anywhere from two weeks before, to two weeks after is within the norm. So it's actually a "due month", not a "due date".

Many doctors advise against nipple stimulation and although some people recommend castor oil or an enema to induce labor in a natural way, lots of other people say not to do this. So I would talk to your doctor and see what she or he recommends.

The natural way to induce labor that worked for me was power walking (around and around the block, much to our neighbors' amusement) and eventually convincing my midwife to break my water when I was having strong contractions every 10 minutes. Mind you, this was my second baby -- but she was born only four hours later, with no intervention, so it was fabulous. A totally natural labor, which, believe it or not, I enjoyed! It was an amazing experience which I have done twice now, both times naturally.

I wish you all the best for your labor. Remember this: You are strong!

And there are thousands of other women doing this right now at the exact same time as you, all over the world.

Your body will only give you what you can handle.

You go, girl!

Suzanne Doyle-Ingram is the creator of the Pregnancy Leads to New Babies.com website, providing information on pregnancy, labor, and how to take care of your new baby. **Check out her new free homemade baby food recipes!** As a family, Suzanne, James, and their two daughters enjoy kite flying, swimming at the beach, and visiting new restaurants. Visit her website at Pregnancy Leads to New Babies.com for more of Suzanne's tips and articles.

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