Towards the end of pregnancy a lot of women get anxious to meet their babies or tire of being pregnant and want some ideas to help them to go into labor.
Some women are willing to do things like drink icky tasting castor oil or will spend hours of time doing nipple stimulation to bring on contractions.
Whether or not these things work is debatable, but often they just leave a woman frustrated or more uncomfortable than she was to begin with.
And some labor inducing methods have potential risks to the mom or baby.
Trying to induce labor naturally is only safe for moms who are full term and have talked to their doctor first.
There are lots of different tips women might hear about that supposedly kick start labor.
These include walking, sex, nipple stimulation, castor oil, acupressure, as well as various foods that may help to bring on labor.
Certain foods have properties in them that may help to thin and soften the cervix.
This may help to prepare the body for labor.
It doesn't necessarily mean that these foods will jump start labor but they aren't harmful and may help the body prepare for birth.
Foods that help prepare the cervix for labor include pineapples, mangos, papayas, and kiwi.
Most tropical fruits contain enzymes that are known to help improve digestion and for ripening the cervix.
Other foods that may help a woman go into labor are foods that have an effect on the digestive system.
Foods that can cause indigestion or bowel stimulation may work to bring on labor.
The intestines are made of smooth muscles.
The uterus is also a smooth muscle and is located close by the intestines.
Smooth muscles contract and relax on their own.
Sometimes when the bowels are stimulated, it will in turn stimulate the uterus and cause contractions.
These contractions can jump start labor.
Spicy foods, pizza, or Chinese foods may be just the type of foods that can bring on contractions.