Many people turn to food to induce labor but with so many options out there, where should you even start? While there is close to no science behind labor-inducing foods, expectant people past their due date are willing to give it a try! There are dozens of foods out there many women claim helped kickstart their labor. Here are some yummy labor-inducing options for women who are "over" being pregnant.
8 Pineapple
Pineapples are great because they are fresh and sweet. Not only do they look pretty, but they also hold nutritional benefits, reports Healthline Parenthood. Pineapples are high in vitamin C and other nutrients, such as manganese. There is a belief that bromelain, an enzyme in pineapples, softens your cervix, causing labor to begin, but science has not proven that.
7 Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Drinking red raspberry leaf tea to induce labor is an old wives’ tale that actually begins back in 1597 when raspberry leaf was used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. Many people drink the tea when they have painful or heavy periods, morning sickness, and to treat gastrointestinal tract disorders, according to Food & Wine. So many women believed it helped induce their labor that a study was published on it in 2001. Despite the belief it helped induce labor, the study showed there were no adverse effects for the mother or baby when raspberry leaf was consumed in tablet form. The study did note that there was a shortening of the second stage of labor and a lower rate of forceps deliveries.
6 Eggplant Parm
When thinking of labor-inducing foods, many people wouldn’t think of eggplant being one of them. Believe it or not, though, a restaurant called Scalini’s in Georgia is famous for its eggplant Parmesan dish that reportedly puts women into labor. Dozens of pregnant people have eaten the dish and gotten to meet their bundles of joy shortly after. While no scientific research has been done, it’s a dish many pregnant people swear by. Rumor has it, it’s because of two main seasonings in the dish: basil and oregano.
5 Spicy Food
Eating spicy food is probably one many expectant mothers have heard of when it comes to inducing labor naturally. The dishes are delicious, but they are also something you actually want to watch out for, reports Parenting First Cry. Certain foods that are spicy release capsaicin which can work against the natural endorphins that are produced during labor. Keep an eye on how much heat is in your dish though.
4 Garlic
Garlic is a popular food believed to induce labor due to how it makes your body react. Eating garlic will stimulate your digestive system, causing you to empty out your bowels and in turn cause contractions to start.
3 Dates
A small study was actually conducted on pregnant women eating dates every day for a month to see if it helped with them going into labor on their own. The study was out of Jordan and conducted in 2011. From the study, scientists learned women who ate six dates a day during the month before their due date ended up going into labor on their own more often. When admitted for delivery, they were also dilated more. Researchers say while the study did show the consumption of the fruit "significantly reduced" the need for an induction, the study may also be out-of-date at this point. At Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, Anna Graseck, M.D., assistant professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, says those who are expecting can try it, but it may not be “very appealing,” reports Good Housekeeping.
2 Maternity Salad
Are you a fan of salads? You’re in luck! At Los Angeles’ Caioti Pizza Café you will find the “maternity salad” that has been on the menu at the restaurant for nearly 30 years. According to Red Tricycle, so many women have claimed the salad induced their labor that the restaurant created a chalkboard name wall called “Salad Babies.”
1 Papaya
Papayas are full of the enzyme papain which is comparable to prostaglandin and oxytocin when released. Prostaglandin and oxytocin are both used to actually induce labor and many people believe it even helped them get contractions going. However, if a papaya is more ripened, more papain is lost, and there will be no effect when it comes to inducing labor. There’s no science behind papayas inducing labor, but it’s so well-known that some people swear by it.
If you have any concerns about consuming certain foods, you should reach out to your doctor.
Sources: Healthline Parenthood, Food & Wine, Parenting First Cry, Good Housekeeping, Red Tricycle