Labor Hacks: Tried, Tested, & Totally Unhinged

By the time I hit the end of pregnancy, I was on a mission. A hurricane was headed straight for us, and if my baby didn’t come before it hit, I’d have to be induced. Honestly, I was just so ready to get this baby out that I would have tried almost any labor hacks.

In a storm, there are no emergency services until it passes. That meant if I went into labor during it, I’d basically be on my own — and I had zero interest in a surprise home birth. So the only safe option was to schedule his arrival before the storm and get the Pitocin.

And I really, really didn’t want that. I’d heard Pitocin contractions were way more painful, and that induction made a C-section more likely (which was my biggest fear).

So, yeah… I was desperate to get things moving naturally. I Googled and Pinterest-searched “obscure ways to bring on labor” every time I woke up to pee (so, constantly). And I tried (and researched) enough tricks to write this post.

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What I Actually Tried

Dates (in Smoothies)

Everyone swears by six dates a day in the last month. I went the smoothie route — pro tip, learn from me: you have to buy pitted dates or pit them yourself. My first smoothie had rock-hard chunks in it, and I was like, “wow, pregnancy hacks are aggressive.” Once I figured that out, date + banana + almond milk became my go-to.

Raspberry Leaf Tea

Not a labor starter, but raspberry leaf tea is said to strengthen your uterus if you drink it regularly. I added lemon. It became my favorite little ritual. When you can’t have wine or endless coffee, it feels good to have something grown-up and cozy to sip.

Curb Walking

Yes, I did it. September in South Florida, 9 months pregnant, walking half on the curb and half off while sweating through my maternity tank. I lasted about ten minutes at a time before deciding my baby was definitely not impressed.

The Birthing Ball

This birth ball was my holy grail. I sat on it constantly — bouncing, circling, leaning forward — and it was the only thing that really helped my back. It didn’t bring on labor but it brought some relief. It comes with a pump for inflating, nonslip socks, and a visual guide of exercises.

Spicy Food

Spicy guacamole was my weapon of choice. I literally bought spicy guac and still added hot sauce to it. Did it spark contractions? Nope. Did it spark raging heartburn? Absolutely. Would I do it again? 100%.

Sex (and yes, solo counts)

Science says semen has prostaglandins that can soften the cervix, and orgasms can trigger contractions. I can’t say either worked, but definitely made the last weeks more tolerable. A win is a win!

Warm Cayenne Lemon Water

I was too nervous to try castor oil (the internet made it sound… messy), but I gave cayenne + lemon a go. It gave me a momentary “is that a contraction or just indigestion?” panic. Verdict: indigestion. But I felt slightly healthier.

The Ones I Researched But Skipped

• Castor Oil: too risky and too bathroom-heavy for me.
• Pineapple core: not the sweet fruit, the fibrous, tongue-shredding middle because of the bromelain. Pineapple bothers my tongue and supplements aren’t well studied in pregnancy.
• Evening Primrose Oil: some moms swear by it, but evidence is mixed.
• Acupuncture: I skipped it during pregnancy, but after birth I had femoral nerve damage — acupuncture was literally what got me back on my feet. There’s such a long list of things acupuncture can aid in. I’m a total believer now and will absolutely try it next time.

The Internet Specials (a.k.a. Please Don’t Judge Me If I Try These Next Time)

• Eggplant Parmesan: a NYC restaurant has a cult following for this dish starting labor. Working on an at-home recipe.
• Mile Circuit: specific positions to help baby engage better. Worth a try if you’re stuck.
• Acupressure on the Pinky Toe: apparently a magic point called BL67. A silly thought, but I’ll try anything.
• Clary Sage Oil: some moms diffuse it or rub it on. Smells nice, but not a miracle worker.
• “Midwives Brew”: castor oil + almond butter + apricot juice + lemon verbena tea. Basically a nightmare smoothie. Haven’t tried it… yet.

The Bottom Line

I bounced, sipped, walked, climbed, lunged, ate, and prayed my way through every “labor starter” trick out there. And still—induction, thanks to a hurricane.

Here’s the truth no one wants to hear when you’re nine months pregnant: your baby will come when your baby is good and ready. But sometimes, trying all these little rituals gives you a sense of control (or at least a way to pass the time.)

So go ahead—order the dates, brew the tea, take the curb walk of shame. Even if it doesn’t make labor start, it might make the waiting a little more bearable.

And hey—if nothing else, you’ll have snacks and a good laugh (or orgasm) to get you through.