Sex, curry and raspberry leaf tea: do any of these tricks really bring on labour?

We looked at some of the most common myths around bringing on labour, speaking to experts and looking at the latest medical studies along the way to find out which methods can really get things moving—and which ones you can safely ignore.

Clary sage

Clary sage essential oil is often said to be effective at triggering contractions when you're overdue, but there's no scientific evidence to back this up. If you want to try it, though, it's not thought to be harmful in small amounts in the later stages of pregnancy, and some midwives think it can help reduce anxiety and pain when you actually do go into labour.

The fiction: The reason that's often given for clary sage bringing on labour is that it increases your levels of the hormone oxytocin – which is a hormone that, at the right levels, stimulates your uterine muscles to contract and also increases the production of prostaglandins that increase contractions further.

There have been almost no scientific studies to confirm this. A (very small) 2017 Japanese study[1] on women between 38 and 40 weeks of pregnancy has suggested that inhaling clary sage essential oil 'induced an increasing trend in oxytocin levels' but had no effect on uterine contractions.

The fact: "There is currently no evidence that clary sage is beneficial in inducing labour, but it is unlikely to cause harm if you want to try," says our expert GP Dr Philippa Kaye.

You should always check with a healthcare professional before using it though she adds. "Please have a discussion with your midwife or doctor before using any essential oil in case, for you, there is a reason you shouldn't be using it – maybe because you have a particular medical condition or you're taking medication that could interact with clary sage."

It's also worth noting that some aromatherapists will not use clary sage essential oil on a pregnant woman – precisely because of its anecdotal association with stimulating uterine contractions. Others – including midwives who use aromatherapy – do not use it unless a woman is in the very late stages of pregnancy (36 to 37 weeks, typically) or has already gone into labour.

How do you use clary sage?

If you have been given the go ahead to try clary sage essential oil, there are a number of ways to use it.

• Put 1 or 2 drops in the bath.
• Mix a few drops with a carrier oil and rub it directly on your bump.
• Inhale it (in a mixture of lavender oil if the scent is too strong)

While there's no evidence that clary sage can bring on labour, it is often used by NHS midwives once labour has started – to relieve anxiety and to help with muscular aches and pains.

"Some people do find that it is beneficial to help with pain, for muscular aches and pains," confirms Dr Philippa. "It's also said to reduce anxiety – which may also help alleviate labour pain."

Can I get clary sage on the NHS?

It's very unlikely, says Dr Philippa. "If you wish to use clary sage essential oil while you're still pregnant, you would have to get it yourself." You can find a small bottle easily in most health food stores.

However, if you go into labour and your attending midwife uses aromatherapy, you may well be given (with your permission) clary sage essential oil (and other essential oils) for free.

Raspberry leaf tea

If your baby's due soon, you've probably heard that drinking raspberry leaf tea (or taking raspberry leaf capsules) in the weeks before your due date can help reduce the length of your labour. You might also have heard that it can bring on labour.

The fiction: “Many complementary practitioners believe raspberry leaf contains a compound called fragarine, which is thought to help tone and strengthen the uterine muscles,” says Anish Patel, co-founder of NutraTea and qualified pharmacist. “The idea is that this may support more coordinated and efficient contractions when labour does begin naturally. It’s about preparation and support rather than triggering labour.”

While this might not be entirely fictitious, there isn’t enough evidence to show that it is fact yet.

The fact: Herbal medicines are medicines and should be considered as such: the fact that something is natural doesn't mean that it can't harm you (many traditional medicines come from plants).

"While I can't say if raspberry leaf does work, many complementary therapists believe that it does help the cervix soften as well as help tone the muscles of the womb – all of which would hopefully bring on and speed up labour," says GP Dr Philippa Kaye.

“Raspberry leaf tea has been used for generations to help prepare the body for labour, but it’s important to be clear that the scientific evidence surrounding this is still limited,” agrees Anish Patel. “Some small studies suggest it might modestly support labour efficiency, but the evidence is not strong enough to say it induces labour. We always position raspberry leaf as a traditional support for the final weeks of pregnancy, rather than a way to induce labour.”

"Check with your antenatal team before taking it, Dr Philippa advises. "It should not be taken:

• before 32 weeks of pregnancy
• if you have had bleeding after the 1st trimester
• if you previously had had premature labour, or a very quick labour
• if your baby is breech
• or if you have a multiple pregnancy.

When can I start drinking raspberry leaf tea and how much can I have?

The general consensus is that, if you want to drink raspberry leaf tea during your pregnancy, that you don't start until week 32. And even then, don't go mad with it. A couple of cups a day tops is enough.

"If it is going to work, it doesn't work instantly, so drinking a cup or taking a capsule is not going to mean instant labour!” says Dr Philippa. “This is why therapists advise building up from 1 cup of tea per day from about 32 weeks to up to 3 cups."

While there are no guarantees that it will do anything, if you like the taste, it might be worth giving it a go.

More teas to try (and avoid!) before labour…

“There are several gentle herbal teas that can provide real comfort during pregnancy,” says Anish Patel. “Ginger is brilliant for easing morning sickness, chamomile helps with relaxation and digestion, peppermint can soothe bloating and promote calm and Rooibos is a lovely caffeine-free option. Beyond their functional benefits, these teas also provide a mindful ritual – a chance to pause, breathe and nurture yourself at such a transformative time.”

However, there are some herbal teas you’ll want to be wary of once you’ve had a positive pregnancy test…

“Certain herbs can be unsafe in pregnancy and should be avoided, such as pennyroyal and senna, and it’s also best to steer clear of blends with high caffeine content,” says Anish. “As a rule of thumb, if you’re unsure, always check with your healthcare provider before putting the kettle on!”

Reflexology

Reflexology is an alternative medicine practice which involves applying pressure using your thumbs, finger and hands to the feet – in order to stimulate different parts of the body.

According to reflexology charts, each part of the foot represents a different part of the body, like the heart, the lungs and the kidneys.

The fiction: The theory goes that stimulating the pituitary gland using pressure on the feet releases the hormone oxytocin, which helps to induce labour.

However, there’s very little direct evidence to prove it actually brings on labour, although you’ll hear plenty of anecdotal evidence that it induced and sped up labour for some women.

The fact: There is still a lot of research needed to confirm whether reflexology can indeed induce labour, however a 2024 study recently suggested that the anecdotal evidence in favour of it could be correct. The study of 1189 pregnant participants concluded that “foot reflexology massage is effective for pregnant women in relieving anxiety, reducing pain, shortening all the three stages of labour, and regulating respiration and pulse to stabilize their vital signs.”[2]

Having sex

The fiction: Many couples swear that having sex around or after your due date can help start the contractions off and induce labour. It is thought that the release of the “love” hormone oxytocin and prostaglandin in the sperm (which is used medically to soften the cervix for labour) could get things moving. However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence to confirm this theory.

The fact: “Prostaglandin, found in semen, is very effective in encouraging the uterus to contract and it also helps in softening the cervix ready for labour,” says Peter Bowen-Simpkins, spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. However, the quantities found in semen released during sex aren’t thought to be large enough to make much difference and there have been various conflicting studies that show very little support for the idea that semen released during sex can help soften the cervix enough for labour to begin.

If you want to give it a try though in normal circumstances it’s absolutely fine to have sex in the final stages of pregnancy as long as you stick to positions that don’t put any pressure on your bump.

However, if you’re suffering from certain pregnancy-related health conditions your doctor may advise abstinence. Once your waters have broken then you shouldn’t have intercourse at all, as your baby is no longer protected from infection.

Nipple stimulation

The fiction: In a similar vein to having sex to induce labour, nipple stimulation is a popular labour-inducing option. Many women swear that stimulating the nipples in imitation of a baby’s sucking can release oxytocin, which among other things, acts to stimulate the uterus to contract.

The fact: A quick twiddle won’t stimulate your nipples in the way your feeding baby would, to do that you need to stimulate the entire area of the areola with a massaging, rather than a pinching action. You’ll ideally need to keep up the stimulation for about fifteen minutes and repeat at frequent intervals throughout the day.

A 2024 study does support this method as an effective natural way to induce labour, but not for the reasons commonly thought. While nipple stimulation does release oxytocin and can be just as effective at causing uterine contractions as synthetic oxytocin delivered through an IV drip, the oxytocin is released in a rapid surge and then drops off suggesting other factors are at play.

“We think that nipple stimulation is causing a release of oxytocin that is leading to a lot more changes we don’t understand yet,” explains Molly McAdow assistant professor of obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive science from Yale University who led the study.

A good walk

The fiction: Many people swear that going for a long walk can start labour off. But, of course, pregnant women walk around all day every day up until the birth without suddenly going into labour!

It is thought that if the baby’s head is engaged then gravity and the movement of walking will help your baby descend and exert pressure on the cervix and so prompt the release of prostaglandin. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the suggestion that walking can help labour along, again only once your body and baby are ready.

The fact: Scientists don’t have any conclusive evidence to support the idea of walking as a labour induction technique, although gentle exercise in late pregnancy can definitely help improve mood, decrease anxiety, release oxytocin and keep women fit and healthy for delivery.

However, one 2021 study does show that walking for low-risk pregnant women could improve cervix preparation and increases the chance of spontaneous labour, although states that more research needs to be done.

Eating a curry

The fiction: This is one recommendation you’ll probably hear frequently despite there being no clear medical evidence to back it up. It is thought that eating a hot curry or similarly spicy food stimulates the guts and bowels, which can have a knock-on effect on the uterus.

The fact: There’s no evidence at all to support this myth and so this is probably one to avoid, or to try with caution, especially if you’ve been suffering from heartburn in pregnancy, or if you’re not used to hot foods. You might feel quite ill eating a hot curry when you’re full term and that’s not a good way to prepare for labour. You might also want to consider how distressing a bout of diarrhoea during labour would be!

Eating pineapple

The fiction: Many women believe that eating pineapple can not only help them conceive in the first place but also help bring baby out into the world once they’re full term, but there’s very little evidence to support this myth.

The fact: Fresh pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain, which is thought to help soften the cervix. However, as each individual pineapple contains only a little of this enzyme, you would need to eat a huge number to experience any significant effect. And the problem is, if you do this you may trigger some nasty side effects like diarrhoea.

Lesley Page, Professor of Midwifery at King’s College says, “I’m not aware of any evidence that pineapple can encourage labour to start, but it’s generally a healthy fruit for pregnant women and it won’t do any harm.”

Nutritionist Dr Rana Conway agrees: “No doubt some overdue women eat pineapple and go into labour, but this is more of a coincidence than anything else. There's no evidence at all that pineapple has any effect on getting babies moving."

A castor oil cocktail

The fiction: This is a very old wives’ tale and you should be wary of using this method to try and induce labour. Castor oil in a cocktail (often with orange juice) is an old-fashioned method for kick-starting labour that is believed to upset your stomach and irritate your insides enough to cause contractions.

The fact: Castor oil is a powerful laxative and therefore it may cause the pregnant mother to suffer from diarrhoea or vomiting before labour, which can then lead to dehydration. A 2022 US study of 323 women did find that a high percentage (91%) of women who took castor oil before labour did give birth vaginally with little or no complications but that a lot more research into the safety of castor oil needs to be done.[4]

Castor oil is a thoroughly unpleasant way to try and induce labour and it can wreak havoc on your insides, will most likely make you vomit and will certainly see you spend a large part of the day in the bathroom, so we’d advise steering clear or speaking to your doctor before you take any.

A membrane sweep (also known as stretch and sweep)

The fiction: No myth around this one – it’s a medically valid procedure offered by midwives and doctors to help encourage labour once a woman has reached her due date (40 weeks) or is overdue.

"If it doesn’t work the first time, you may be offered another sweep a few days or a week later. After this, more comprehensive methods of induction are available," says Dr Philippa Kaye.

The fact: If the cervix is ripe, your midwife may be able to encourage the start of labour by sweeping the membranes, usually known as ‘a sweep’. This is a very old practice that prompts the uterus lining to release prostaglandin.

"The aim is to sweep the membranes or sac which surrounds the baby away from the cervix and in doing so stimulate the production of hormones which then starts labour,” says Dr Philippa. "Even if the midwife can't actually sweep the membranes away by inserting a finger into the cervix you can stretch it and massage it slightly, and again, help start labour."

Your midwife uses her finger to gently move the membranes away from the lower part of the uterus. A sweep can be quite uncomfortable, and some women may even find it painful. While it is intervention of a kind, a membrane sweep doesn’t involve any medication, so is different to a medical induction.

Studies show that membrane sweeps do increase the chances of women going into spontaneous labour and that they increase the chance of successful vaginal deliveries, so this is on method you’ll want to discuss with your midwife and consider.

Dr Philippa tells us that if you have a sweep, there is approximately a 50% chance it will start labour in 24-48 hours.

"The best I have ever heard of was in antenatal clinic where a woman had a sweep, left clinic and was walking down the corridor when her waters broke and contractions started!" she reveals.

References:

[1] Changes in salivary oxytocin after inhalation of clary sage essential oil scent in term-pregnant women. Takodoro, Y et al. BMC Research Notes 10, 717 (2017).

[2] Yang JM et al. Effects of foot reflexology massage on pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Sci Rep. Jan 2024.

[3] Shojaei B, Loripoor M, Sheikhfathollahi M, Aminzadeh F. The effect of walking during late pregnancy on the outcomes of labor and delivery: A randomized clinical trial. J Educ Health Promot. Jul 2021.

[4] DeMaria AL et al. Castor oil as a natural alternative to labor induction: A retrospective descriptive study. Women Birth. Apr 2018.