Natural Cervical Ripening: What to Try and When to Start
Photo Credit: Erin Heuser Photography
As you approach the end of your pregnancy, you might start hearing a lot about “cervical ripening.” This term refers to the process of softening and thinning your cervix in preparation for labor. A ripened cervix helps facilitate dilation and can make labor progress more smoothly. But while encouraging your cervix to ripen is important, it’s just as essential to approach this process with a calm and relaxed mindset. Let’s explore some natural ways to support cervical ripening, and why it’s okay not to stress over trying every method, especially if something doesn’t feel right to you.
Why is Cervical Ripening Important?
Before labor begins, your cervix needs to soften, thin out, and eventually dilate to allow your baby to pass through the birth canal. A cervix that’s ripe is more likely to respond to labor-inducing contractions, potentially leading to a smoother and quicker labor experience. By gently encouraging your cervix to ripen, you can help prepare your body for the work ahead.
Gentle Methods to Encourage Cervical Ripening
Starting at 20 Weeks
• Drink Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: This herbal tea has been shown to help tone the uterus, shorten labor, and decrease the need for medical intervention. You can start drinking 1-3 cups a day from 20 weeks onward. As you near your due date, at 37 weeks, you can increase the strength by steeping 4 tea bags in 20-32oz of water overnight and drinking it the next morning.
Starting at 36 Weeks
• Get Chiropractic Adjustments: Regular chiropractic care can help encourage balance in your body’s ligaments, muscles, and fascia, which can in turn help position your baby more optimally for labor. This can support not only a smoother labor process but also the ripening of your cervix.
Starting at 37 Weeks
• Eat Six Dates a Day: Research has shown that eating dates can help with cervical ripening, inducing spontaneous labor, shortening labor, decreasing the need for Pitocin, and reducing your risk of cesarean section. They’re delicious with a bit of unsweetened nut butter (like almond or peanut butter) to offset the sweetness. Just be mindful if you have diabetes, as dates are high in natural sugars.
• Take Evening Primrose Oil Supplements: Evening Primrose Oil has been shown in at least one study to help ripen the cervix. You can take 1000 mg orally twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
• Enjoy as Much Sex as You Like: Semen contains prostaglandins, the same hormone used in cervical ripening medications. Orgasms can also help increase uterine activity, making sex a fun and effective way to encourage cervical ripening.
• Stimulate Your Breasts: Breast stimulation has been known to help ripen the cervix and induce labor since the 1700s. It works by causing the release of oxytocin, which can also reduce the rate of postpartum hemorrhage. You can stimulate your breasts manually or use a breast pump for 10 minutes twice a day (five minutes per breast). If you’re interested in practicing hand expression, here’s a helpful video guide.
Starting at 39 Weeks
• Have Your Membranes Stripped/Swept: Membrane sweeping is a procedure where your provider separates your amniotic membrane from the lower part of your uterus during a cervical exam. This can help induce labor and prevent the need for post-dates induction. If your cervix is at least 1cm dilated, you can request your provider to perform a membrane strip/sweep. If your cervix is completely closed, ask for a cervical massage, which offers similar benefits.
• Get Acupuncture: Acupuncture has been used for centuries to help stimulate labor. Ensure you see an acupuncturist who is skilled in pregnancy care, as specific points should be targeted to encourage labor. If you’re interested, I can provide recommendations for practitioners who specialize in this area.
The Importance of Balance and Comfort
While all of these methods can support your body in preparing for labor, it’s crucial to remember that every pregnancy is unique. What works for one person might not be right for another, and that’s okay. The last weeks of pregnancy can be emotionally and physically intense, and the last thing you need is the added pressure of feeling like you have to do everything perfectly.
If a certain method doesn’t appeal to you, it’s perfectly fine to skip it. The goal is to support your body, not to stress or overwhelm yourself. Listen to your instincts and focus on what feels right for you and your baby. The body is designed to do incredible things, and when the time is right, labor will begin.
Trust Your Body
Remember, your body knows what to do. While it can be helpful to gently encourage cervical ripening, it’s important to trust in your body’s natural process. The most important thing you can do in these final weeks is to take care of yourself, stay relaxed, and enjoy the anticipation of meeting your baby.
In conclusion, ripening your cervix before labor is a natural and helpful process, but it’s not something to stress over. Focus on the methods that feel comfortable to you, and trust that your body will guide you through this journey when the time comes.
