Nothing is quite as exciting as an approaching due date! During those last few weeks you have a mix of the jitters and get-this-thing-out-of-me type of emotions. All are totally normal! Once you have passed the 37 week mark, baby is considered full-term, but it is best for baby to be born as close to the due date as possible! But sometimes, much to mama's despair, baby stays put until after his due date. From time to time, baby needs a little help making his entrance into the world. Here are four natural, gentle ways to prepare your body for labor.

Walking

When your feet are so swollen that no shoes fit and your belly is so ginormous that you haven't seen the lower half of your body in months, the last thing you might feel like doing is going on a walk. The good news is you won't need to walk for long! Short walks are recommended for pregnant women wanting to induce labor naturally. Long walks are too exhausting. You'll need all that energy for the birth of your precious baby! Walking is a great way to let gravity take on the task of bringing the baby down further into the birth canal. The descent of baby will cause pressure on the cervix causing it to open.

Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)

EPO has countless medicinal benefits. It contains fatty acids (gamma-linoleic acid) that work wonders on skin elasticity. While EPO may not induce labor per se, it can definitely soften the cervix. And if you have a baby with a giant head like I did, it could save your poor vagina from being ripped apart. If only I had known about this seemingly heaven sent, vagina-saving, herb back then! EPO can be taken orally or inserted vaginally. If you are utilizing EPO for it's ability to ease the birth by softening the cervix, inserting it vaginally may be more effective. As always, talk to your doctor or midwife before using any medications or herbs like EPO. 

Acupressure

Acupressure is the cousin to the well-known acupuncture. While Acupuncture requires the use of small needles, acupressure only requires physical pressure to distinct pressure points on the body.  If you or your partner do not feel comfortable applying acupressure yourselves, contact a massage therapist who is educated in acupressure to assist you. While you're at it, get a prenatal massage! You won't regret it once she massages your discomfort away. If you are full term and feel that your body is preparing itself for labor to begin, acupressure can be a great help to move things along or even to ease some discomfort once labor has begun.

Bounce On A Yoga Ball

In my opinion, nothing is more amusing than watching an extremely pregnant woman bounce desperately on a yoga ball. I remember feeling like a beached whale trying to bounce my way back to the ocean. In other words, I was huge and I was beyond done. Bouncing on a yoga ball is much like walking, but may be easier especially if you have back pain. The bouncing can assist the descent of the baby into the birth canal, allowing baby to get into position for birth. If you are experiencing a fair amount of back pain, try rocking your pelvis forward and back, then side to side. This is another way of encouraging your baby to make the grand descent, while also relieving some of your own pain. The human body is amazing. At this point it has proven that it can sustain a life inside of a life. Now that it is preparing for birth, we hope you can use these natural ways to induce labor. Remember, these helpful tips work best once the body is already taking measures to give birth. We hope you are enjoying your pregnancy!

Written by Lindsay Helm