10 Effective Exercises to Induce Labor Fast & Have a Safe Delivery

Pregnancy can be a beautiful journey, but as the due date passes, many women start feeling anxious and restless. While waiting for the baby to arrive, you may experience discomfort, sleepless nights, and the eagerness to hold your little one. If you are reaching or have passed your due date, you might be wondering if there are any natural ways to induce labor and have a safe delivery. Fortunately, there are several exercises to induce labor that can help you prepare your body for delivery and reduce the chances of complications.

Exercises to Induce Labor Naturally

Here are ten effective exercises that can help you induce labor fast and have a safe delivery.

1. Pelvic Tilts

Pelvic tilts are great to strengthen the pelvic muscles and prep them for labor. Begin by lying down on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor. Flatten the back against the floor and slowly bend the pelvis up. Hold it in this position for about 10 seconds and slowly release. Exercise twice a day for 10 minutes for pelvic strength.

2. Squatting

Squatting is one of the most natural movements of the body and among the safest exercises that can be done during pregnancy. It builds strength in various muscles in the thigh, lower back, and abdomen while opening up the pelvis. Squats can be performed throughout a healthy pregnancy and are even thought to help orient the baby into position for delivery. Pregnancy squats are the preferred exercise to induce labor.

Stand with your feet slightly wider than your hips and the toes pointing forward. If you need support or stability, hold the back of a chair that is placed in front of you. While keeping your back straight, go down as though you’re about to sit on a chair. You can either do a full squat- go down all the way or a half squat where your lower back doesn’t go below your knees. Hold this position for 5 or 10 seconds, take a deep breath and exhale as you rise back up.

3. Birthing Ball

An exercise ball is a fun addition to your workout routine. Sit in the center of the ball with your feet flat on the ground, and your knees bent. Use your feet to roll back and forth or just bounce up and down gently on the exercise ball. Rolling on the ball and gentle bounce are some of the good exercises for inducing labor at 39 weeks as the bouncing motion can help position the baby for a natural birth.

4. Kegels

Kegels or pelvic floor exercises activate the pelvic floor muscles that support pelvic organs such as the bladder, urethra, vagina, uterus, small intestines, and rectum. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and gaining good control over them can help during the pushing stage of labor. Contract the pelvic floor muscles tighter for a count of five seconds, hold for five seconds and release for a count of five. Practice this 10-15 times a day.

5. Butterfly Pose

Butterfly pose is a simple exercise that can open up your pelvis and build flexibility in the surrounding muscles along with strengthening the muscles of the back and thigh. It is one of the best exercises to induce labor naturally and can be started early in pregnancy.

Sit on the floor and put the soles of your feet together. Pulse your legs up and down like the wings of a butterfly and feel the muscles in your thigh stretch. Maintain a pace and range of motion that feels comfortable to you.

6. Lunges

Lunges are effective in warming up the hips and open them up to let the baby rotate and descent. They can be used to induce labor naturally. Stand with both legs together and take one big step forward. Descend your lower back while pivoting on the front knee while you feel the muscles in your back and hind leg stretch. For added safety and balance push up against a wall while you do it. Alternate the legs and repeat the exercise.

7. Stair Climbing

Climbing stairs requires you to use all the muscles of your lower back and legs. The stretching and movement of the hips help orient the baby’s head down towards the birth canal. Stair climbing is a wonderful way of inducing labor naturally as it prepares the body for the physical exertion of labor. It also presses on the cervix, prompting it to dilate and opens up the pelvic region.

8. Walking

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that walking during pregnancy can have tons of benefits for your body. Walking is a low impact exercise to induce labor with no side effects or risks involved. You should go for a 30 minute walk daily throughout your pregnancy as long as your doctor doesn't recommend against it.

9. Cat-Cow Stretch

The Cat-Cow stretch is a yoga pose that can help induce labor or move it along. The best time to encourage labor is between 39 to 41 weeks of pregnancy. Start the exercise on your hands and knees, with your wrists underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips.

Inhale and lift your head and tailbone towards the ceiling, allowing your belly to drop towards the floor. This is the "cow" position. Exhale and tuck your chin to your chest, rounding your spine and drawing your tailbone under towards your knees. This is the "cat" position. You can repeat this sequence for 30 seconds to a minute.

10. Hip Circles

Hip circles can create a big movement change in your pelvis and may help your baby snuggle on down into your pelvis. Hip circles are also a helpful exercise in to help finagle your baby into a better position. Stand tall with your feet at hip-width apart and keep your hands in front of your stomach. Pull your right knee up until it is parallel with the floor and move your hips in a circular motion to the right, then down and to the left, and back up to the starting position.

Repeat the motion in the opposite direction, continue for several repetitions, then switch to the other leg. Remember to keep your chest up and your core engaged throughout the exercise.

Key Takeaways

In conclusion, there are various effective exercises to induce labor and ensure a safe delivery. These exercises range from simple movements like walking and climbing stairs to more specific exercises like pelvic tilts and cat-cow stretches. However, it is important to consult with your healthcare provider before engaging in any form of exercise during pregnancy. It is also essential to listen to your body and stop immediately if you experience any discomfort or pain. With proper guidance and precautions, these exercises can aid in a smooth and successful delivery, and help you prepare for the beautiful journey of motherhood.

References

1. Pereira IB, Silva R, Ayres-de-Campos D, Clode N. (2022). Physical exercise at term for enhancing the spontaneous onset of labor: a randomized clinical trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med.

2. Shojaei B, Loripoor M, Sheikhfathollahi M, Aminzadeh F. (2021). The effect of walking during late pregnancy on the outcomes of labor and delivery: A randomized clinical trial. J Educ Health Promot.

3. Shen HC, Wang H, Sun B, Jiang LZ, Meng Q. (2021). Birthing ball on promoting cervical ripening and its influence on the labor process and the neonatal blood gas index. World J Clin Cases.