Health Debunked: Are There Foods or Activities That Can Start Labor Early?

Sometimes, patience might wear a bit thin toward the end of a pregnancy. In the days leading up to the baby’s due date, some people try to find ways to expedite the process and naturally induce labor. A quick online search or chat with friends will yield ideas like going for a walk, having sex, eating spicy food, or downing a spoonful of castor oil, but do any of these things actually work? 

Let’s see what the science — and the experts — say about inducing labor with home remedies. 

What is labor?

Labor is the last part of pregnancy. It involves a series of contractions of the uterus (the organ where the fetus grows during pregnancy) that ultimately lead to the birth of the baby. In early labor, contractions help the cervix (the lower end of the uterus) open, soften, and thin out to allow the baby to move into the birth canal. This happens naturally when the baby is ready to be born, or a doctor can induce it if necessary.

Some people will be near or past the baby’s due date and will look for ways to induce labor and cause the cervix to open and soften to hasten the baby's delivery. One study found that more than 50% of respondents tried at least one non-prescribed way to induce labor, and the most common ways were:  

• Walking (43%)

• Intercourse (23%)

• Eating spicy food (11%)

Very few respondents used laxatives, heavy exercise, acupuncture, or herbal preparations to induce labor. This is good news, since these methods carry some risks, and you shouldn’t try them without a healthcare provider’s supervision. 

Do methods for inducing labor have a bad rep?

Most of the methods for inducing labor are based on popular wisdom that’s passed down through generations. Some methods are widely believed, but they might not have any data to support them. Other methods have been studied, but the results are mixed and not definitive.   

Methods such as laxatives, heavy exercise, acupuncture, or herbal preparations may carry a bad rep because they come with risks. 

Claim: Foods and activities can start labor early

If an OB/GYN needs to induce labor at or after the 39th week of pregnancy, they use studied methods like rupturing the amniotic sac (also known as “breaking the water”); administering prostaglandin, which is a hormone that helps soften the cervix; or giving the hormone oxytocin to stimulate contractions.

The natural methods that people use to induce labor try to copy the effect of what OB/GYNs do in hopes of spontaneously promoting uterine contractions or thinning the cervix. Common things that people do to try to induce labor include:

• Walking, which is supposed to draw the baby down into the pelvis

• Having sex, which releases the hormone oxytocin and may promote contractions, and sperm contains prostaglandin hormones that may help thin and dilate the cervix

• Taking castor oil, which may cause uterine contractions

• Eating spicy food, which may irritate the intestines enough to cause the uterus to contract

What does the science say?

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what causes labor to start in a full-term pregnancy. Sometimes, labor starts during an activity, but most of the time, it starts out of nowhere. In one study where people reported that their labor started during an activity, the most common activities were:

• Physical activity, such as walking (32%)

• A clinician-mediated trigger (24%)

• Some physical trigger, including sex (14%)

• Ingesting something, such as castor oil (12%)

Walking and other exercise is usually recommended during pregnancy. Exercise is known to help prevent gestational diabetes, back pain, and constipation, but there’s not much evidence to show that exercise can help induce labor. 

Studies on the use of sexual activity to induce labor have reported mixed results. Semen does contain prostaglandins, which may help soften the cervix, but there is no clear evidence that penetrative vaginal intercourse increases the chance of spontaneous labor. Breast or nipple stimulation may be somewhat helpful in specific situations because it helps release oxytocin and cause uterine contractions.   

Castor oil is a known laxative, which causes diarrhea. Castor oil causes spasms in the intestines, and the thought is that this may irritate the uterus and promote contractions. Studies show that castor oil may work to start labor. But it’s not widely recommended due to potential side effects, such as nausea, extreme diarrhea, dehydration, and meconium-stained amniotic fluid. Newer studies have also cast doubt on studies that showed that castor oil was effective; newer reviews point out flaws in older studies, which means that the effects may not be as strong as previously thought. It’s also not clear if castor oil is safe for everyone. 

There’s no documented research to prove that spicy foods induce labor. The side effects of spicy foods include heartburn and indigestion, which is certainly not comfortable when you’re almost 40 weeks pregnant. 

What do the experts say?

Dr. Daniel Boyer specializes in internal medicine, gynecology, and obstetric medicine and is a medical writer at the Farr Institute. He says that most popular natural remedies for inducing labor are controversial because they don't provide solid evidence or the research is inconclusive. There’s also not enough research to show whether these methods are safe for everyone. 

“Exercise is thought to induce labor, though the available forms of exercises haven't proved that,” says Boyer. “Exercise is highly recommended but will only reduce stress linked to pregnancy and keep your body strong for better delivery.”

Sex as a way to induce labor has a bit more clout. “Having an orgasm may release oxytocin, a hormone that helps activate uterine contraction,” says Boyer. “Additionally, the prostaglandin hormones present in semen may also help in ripening the cervix.” He agrees that nipple stimulation can also release oxytocin.

And while Boyer says that taking 1 to 2 oz of castor oil can help soften the cervix and jumpstart labor, he warns that drinking a lot of castor oil may lead to some health complications. So you should only do it under the administration of a healthcare provider or midwife. 

So, should I try it? 

If it’s deemed safe by your provider or midwife, it’s fine to go for a walk, have sex, or try nipple stimulation to induce labor. Spicy food is ineffective and may cause heartburn, so it’s not recommended. And castor oil should only be used under healthcare provider supervision, since it has some risky side effects. 

Ultimately, the best plan is to work with your healthcare provider to determine when your baby is safely ready to make their entrance into the world. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Cara Rosenbloom, RD

Cara Rosenbloom, RD, has been a registered dietitian for 22 years. She began her career working as a dietitian at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Edited by:

Kelsey Abkin

Kelsey Abkin has been working as a journalist since 2016. She has held many titles throughout her career, including editor, content strategist, digital strategist, and writer.

Reviewed by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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