At 39 weeks, your baby is considered full term, and it’s completely normal to feel ready to get things moving. Several natural methods may help encourage labor, though none are guaranteed to work on a specific timeline. The approaches with the most evidence behind them include nipple stimulation, eating dates, movement, and acupressure. Here’s what the research actually says about each one.
Nipple Stimulation
Of all the natural methods, nipple stimulation has the strongest physiological basis. It triggers your body’s release of oxytocin, the same hormone hospitals use (in synthetic form) to induce labor. The stimulation can be done by hand or with a breast pump, and the key is duration: clinical protocols ask women to stimulate for periods of at least 30 minutes, with breaks of up to 15 minutes as needed, aiming for a cumulative two hours of stimulation.
This is not a casual five-minute effort. It works best when you treat it as a deliberate practice session. Some women experience contractions during or shortly after stimulation, while others need repeated sessions over several days. If you’re already showing signs of cervical readiness (your provider may have mentioned your Bishop score or how “favorable” your cervix looks), nipple stimulation is more likely to tip things into active labor. If your cervix hasn’t started changing at all, the effect may be minimal.
Eating Dates in Late Pregnancy
Eating date fruit in the final weeks of pregnancy is one of the more surprising entries on this list, but a meta-analysis of multiple studies found real, measurable effects. Women who consumed dates regularly in late pregnancy arrived at the hospital with cervixes that were about 1.1 cm more dilated on average compared to women who didn’t eat dates. They were 40% less likely to need medical induction or labor augmentation.
The benefits extended into labor itself. The early phase of labor (before active contractions really pick up) was roughly 4.6 hours shorter in date-eating groups, and the pushing stage was about 7.7 minutes shorter. Most studies had women eating six to seven dates per day starting around weeks 36 to 37, so if you’re already at 39 weeks, you’re starting later than ideal, but there’s no downside to adding them to your diet now.
Movement and Positioning
Walking, squatting, lunging, and bouncing on a birthing ball all work on the same principle: gravity and pelvic movement help your baby’s head press down against your cervix. That pressure is one of the signals your body uses to ramp up contractions.
Curb walking (placing one foot on a curb and one on the street, then alternating) creates an asymmetrical motion in your pelvis. The theory is that this uneven movement encourages the baby’s head to descend further and engage more firmly, increasing pressure on the cervix and promoting dilation and thinning. Squats and lunges open the pelvic outlet. Hip circles on a birthing ball can reduce pelvic tension and coax the baby lower. None of these have been tested in rigorous clinical trials the way medications have, but they’re safe, free, and align with how your body is already designed to prepare for labor. Even if they don’t start contractions immediately, optimal fetal positioning can make labor shorter and easier once it does begin.
Acupressure Points
Acupressure involves applying firm, sustained pressure to specific points on the body. The most studied point for labor is called SP6, located about four finger-widths above your inner ankle bone, just behind the shinbone. You can find it by measuring with your own fingers and pressing until you feel a tender, slightly achy spot.
In a randomized trial of 75 women, those who received firm pressure on the SP6 point during early labor progressed from 3 cm dilation to full dilation significantly faster than a control group. The total labor time was also significantly shorter. Other points traditionally used include LI4 (the fleshy web between your thumb and index finger) and BL60 (the dip between your ankle bone and Achilles tendon). You can apply steady pressure with your thumb for one to two minutes at a time, release, and repeat. Partners can help. The evidence is modest but real enough that many midwives recommend it.
Sexual Intercourse
Sex is one of the most commonly recommended natural induction methods, but the evidence is thin. The theoretical basis has three parts: semen contains natural prostaglandins (compounds that help soften and ripen the cervix), orgasm triggers oxytocin release, and physical stimulation of the lower uterus may encourage contractions. A Cochrane review, the gold standard for medical evidence, found only one small study of 28 women on this topic, and it provided too little data to draw any conclusions.
That said, the biological mechanisms are plausible, and sex at 39 weeks is safe for most women whose water hasn’t broken and who don’t have placenta previa. It’s unlikely to hurt and may help, especially in combination with other methods.
What Doesn’t Have Good Evidence
Spicy food is probably the most popular folk remedy for inducing labor. The idea is that irritating the gut can trigger uterine contractions through shared nerve pathways. There’s a kernel of biological plausibility there, but no controlled studies support it. What you’re more likely to get is heartburn and stomach discomfort, both of which are already common at 39 weeks.
Red raspberry leaf tea is widely marketed for labor preparation, but a clinical trial found no statistically significant increase in natural births or uterine contractions compared to a control group. The researchers concluded it cannot be recommended as an effective method for inducing labor. It’s safe to drink, but treat it as a pleasant tea rather than a labor-starting tool.
Castor oil deserves a specific caution. It’s a powerful laxative that can cause intense cramping, nausea, and diarrhea. While some studies have explored it for post-date pregnancies (41+ weeks), the risk of dehydration from severe diarrhea and the general unpleasantness make it a poor choice, especially when you want to enter labor well-hydrated and rested.
Combining Methods Safely
Most practitioners who support natural induction suggest combining several low-risk approaches rather than relying on one. A typical daily routine at 39 weeks might include eating dates, going for a long walk with some curb walking, spending time on a birthing ball in the evening, practicing nipple stimulation for a couple of hours, and having your partner apply acupressure to SP6 before bed. None of these interfere with each other, and the cumulative effect of multiple gentle signals may be more effective than any single method alone.
Your body’s readiness matters more than any technique. If your cervix is already softening and thinning, these methods have a much better chance of nudging you into labor. If your body isn’t there yet, they’re unlikely to force the issue, which is actually a safety feature. Unlike medical induction, natural methods generally only work when your body is already close to ready.
When to Head to the Hospital
If your efforts work, you’ll want to know when it’s time to go. The standard guideline is to call your provider or head to the hospital once contractions are coming every five minutes and have held that pattern for at least one hour. If your water breaks, call regardless of whether you’re feeling contractions.
Seek immediate help if you experience heavy bleeding, a significant decrease in your baby’s movement, severe nausea and vomiting, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or sudden swelling in your face, arms, or legs. These symptoms are rare but require urgent evaluation regardless of whether you’ve been trying natural induction methods.