Or at least these yoga poses to induce labor haven’t worked for me so far …

OK. To be fair.. most of these poses are designed to open the hips and inner thighs, which could help prepare the body for labor but not necessarily “induce” it.. but people say squats particularly and hip openers might help if you’re at term and ready to go. (I am!)

See also Dear Baby

Without further adu, I give you..

5 Poses to Induce Labor

(But Don’t Work If You’re Me Because My Baby Doesn’t Want to Come Out and I’m Going to Be Pregnant Forever)

1. Malasana (Garland Pose)

2. Goddess Pose

3. Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide Legged Forward Bend)

4. Baddha Konasana (Cobblers Pose) while pressing the “trigger point” between your ankle bone and heel.

5. Parivrtta Surya Yantrasana (Compass Pose). A milder modified version of this to open my hips

Other things that don’t work…

Sex

Nipple Stimulation

Spicy Foods

Pineapple

Long Walks

Bouncing on a Yoga Ball

Gardening

Meditating

Massage

Relaxing

Not yet tested…

Patience

Update 2016

Yes, I DID have the baby! Now, she’s a beautiful, almost-4-year-old who is incredibly imaginative—in fact, she nearly gave me a heart attack yesterday when she told me she rode on a bus to a park where she went on a boat ride during preschool yesterday (I hadn’t signed any permission slips!). After planning what I would say when I call the school, she later told me that she had only imagined that boat ride. Having a child with a wild imagination is usually lots of fun… I can’t believe the things that come out of that kid’s mouth sometimes.

What Did I Do to Induce Labor Naturally

When I wrote this post originally, I was very close to giving birth and super annoyed that nothing I did was working. I went to the doctor five days past my due date and they hooked me up to some machine that measured my contractions (I didn’t even know I was having contractions, but apparently I was and they were pretty close together…). They scheduled an induction for at 7am the following morning.. I went home from the doctor that morning, determined to induce myself without the help of drugs. I walked, probably 5-6 miles around my neighborhood, and, ya’ll, it’s already pretty hot in Charleston at the end of April. I took caster oil (just a little bit). Every time I sat down, I bounced on my yoga ball. (And when I say I bounce, I mean I BOUNCED like I meant it.) I also took a bath, and tried the whole nipple stimulation thing to get things going—honestly, it was just the weirdest thing, but I was a woman on a mission. That evening those contractions got stronger. And they started to hurt. I went to the hospital at 11pm, and guess what time the baby came? 7am! The exact time I was scheduled to be induced. We met out deadline, but barely, which is fitting since that’s the way I finish most of my projects.

How would I do things differently next time?

Since 2012, I’ve studied prenatal yoga and was certified to teach. I’ve helped plenty of women all the way up to their due dates (and sometimes even a little bit after). As you can imagine, this has changed my view on pregnancy and birth quite a bit. Here’s what I remind the mamas I work with who have gone past their “due dates.”

Remember that due dates are just estimates. Every woman is different and it’s completely normal and natural for baby to stay in for up to two weeks past that date. Don’t get all worked up about it.

Don’t spend lots of time freaking out and trying to induce baby like I did! If you need to do something with your nervous energy, spend your time doing relaxation exercises. Take warm baths, long Savasanas, and practice deep breathing to soothe your nerves and anxieties.

Most importantly, trust your body to do its thing. You were designed for this. Your body grew an entire person, probably without much intervention from you or anyone else. THAT was the hard part. When it comes to time to birth, let your body handle it. It knows what to do. You’ve got this, mama!

Did you try to induce your own labor with yoga and other natural techniques? How did ti go? Comment below and give us YOUR update, too!

No matter WHEN you go into labor, NOW is the time to prepare for your new life as a mother. Enter your email below to get a FREE guided meditation just for mamas.

See also …
What Not to Wear: Yoga Mamas
Baby Yoga? This is How We Do It
6 Reasons Every Mama Needs a Yoga Ball
3 Surprising Reasons Every Mama Needs a Yoga Mat