Natural Inductions I Tried

Dates

Six dates a day supposedly helps with cervical dilation and may help shorten labor.

When I heard about dates, I originally ran out to buy a pack to open when I was closer to my estimated due date. I did open it to try one and knew instantly this was going to be hard because the taste and texture were disgusting to me. At some point, I tried a second time to eat one date with 3 prunes to see if eating it with something else could mask the taste. It sort of worked. I really started eating dates around 38 weeks and 5 days. I did not like the taste, so I tried to eat as much as I could stomach in one sitting when I could so I didn't follow the rules of 6 dates a day. How much I ate in one day ranged anywhere from 1-6 and most of the times it was less than 6.

* I do however have an anecdotal story to share. So I know a mom who ate whole pineapples and 6 dates a day that went to 41 weeks and had her second baby in 8.5 hours. She labored at home for 5 hours, and when she went to the hospital with contractions 2-3 mins apart, she was already 5 cm dilated and 90% effaced and she says she only pushed for 9 mins. She credits it to all that she ate because her first pregnancy was 17 hours long on Pitocin with the epidural and 1 hour and 40 mins of pushing. Remember results may vary.

Pineapple

Supposedly helps soften the cervix and 7 pineapples may put you into labor.

I wasn't eating whole pineapples, although I like pineapple and I am an avid fruit eater. I started eating my first pineapple around 38 weeks and 3 days. I cut several large slices of pineapple to eat a few times a day for 3 days. It often made my mouth tingle after several pieces. Around 39 weeks and 1 day, I did mostly eat my second pineapple in one day. Around 40 weeks, I mostly ate my third pineapple.

Spicy Food

Some women swear by this. I had a spicy deluxe chicken sandwich with Polynesian sauce from Chick Fil A at 38 weeks and 2 days. I didn't feel anything after eating this, but I love spicy food and have eaten it throughout my second and third pregnancy. At 39 weeks and 2 days, I had a few buffalo wings with blue cheese. At 39 weeks and 4 days, I had a buffalo calzone. At 40 weeks I had buffalo wings. Again, I felt nothing but a tasty meal.

Red Raspberry Leaves Supplement

Start at 34 weeks to help strengthen the uterus.

I started taking this inconsistently around 36-37 weeks. I did discuss the tea vs the supplement with my midwives who said it would help tone my uterus. Sometimes I missed it because I was taking a lot of supplements throughout my pregnancy, prenatal vitamins for overall health, iron supplement towards the end of pregnancy when my iron went down, and vitamin d, because I was deficient in vitamin d prior to my 3rd pregnancy. Probiotics and Vitamin C to boost my immunity since the last month of my pregnancy my family keep falling ill, as well as me feeling sick too and to help prevent Group B Strep. Garlic for blood pressure - while my blood pressure never went too high, it was higher than my midwives would have liked to see because it has to stay in a certain range to safely have a home birth and I had no room for the blood pressure to go up.

Evening Primrose Oil Supplement

- My Midwives Do Not Recommend This For Pregnancy -

I had heard about using primrose oil among many natural inductions countless of times. My midwives said it is no longer recommended as safe to use during pregnancy. Thankfully I had only tried 2 capsules in one day but hadn't tried anymore after and won't since I want to do further research on this. To read more about the possible complications of taking this supplement, click here.

Clear Blue Plus Pregnancy Test (Blue Dye)

Clear Blue Plus Pregnancy Test with Blue Dye (+ / - ) This is what a negative looks like: Side Note: Blue dyes are often said to more frequently give false positives than pink dye. Some online boards that will tweak (alter) a pregnancy test photo to help individuals identify if the test is a faint positive or indeed negative, often will not do blue dyes.

Frida Mom for Post Laparoscopy Care

My Frida Mom Basket for Post-Laparoscopy Care. Why I Love the Frida Mom Line (Even Beyond Motherhood) One of the things I’ve really come to appreciate is how versatile the Frida Mom line is—not just for new moms, but for anyone recovering from abdominal surgeries, such as laparoscopies for endometriosis. After surgery, comfort and gentle care are everything. That’s where the C-section recovery underwear comes in. Even if you haven’t had a baby, the design makes sense—when you have incisions on your abdomen, you need something soft, high-waisted, and non-restrictive. These disposable underwears are a lifesaver compared to standard disposable Depends. The big difference? You can build your own pad system . Start with the underwear. Add a menstrual pad. Layer on a witch hazel perineal liner, perineal cream, or both. Attach an optional heating pad for cramping. It’s completely customizable depending on what your body needs that day. I also want to mention the liners pack...

My Laparoscopy Recovery Essentials: What’s Actually Helping Me Heal

Disclaimer: Links to all the products I mentioned are included. I am not being paid to promote any of them and do not receive payments. Skin sensitivity may impact your experiences with these products. Recovering from my laparoscopy has been a journey, and honestly, some days are more uncomfortable than others. Over the past week, I’ve found a few products that have made a huge difference in how I feel—both physically and mentally. Here’s what’s been helping me get through it: 1. Body Wash That Feels Safe Before and after surgery, I wanted something gentle that still felt clean. I’ve been using Dove Antibacterial Body Wash , and it’s been perfect. It keeps the incision area clean without stinging or irritating my skin, which is such a relief. 2. Underwear That Actually Works I never thought I’d get excited about disposable underwear, but Frida Mom Disposable C-Section Underwear has been a game-changer. They’re soft, supportive, and don’t press on my stomach—exactly what ...

Unfolding Dreams

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