The normal pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks. Sometimes labor pain does not begin even though 40 weeks have past. In such situation the pregnant woman should take measures to promote quick labor. I hear there are foods that promotes quick labor. Is this true? What are the foods that promotes quick labor.
As per the tradition here that I know, it is papaya (also called pawpaw) that can help ease the labor pains. But maybe because that yellow fruit is good for the digestive system and combats constipation which is inimical to the labor process. And with promoting quick labor, I'm not sure if papaya can help.
I heard that pineapple induces labor; be it juice, raw fruit or smoothie. Bromelain in pineapple helps soften the cervix which triggers easy labor. Another food that can stimulate labor is black licorice. It is found that licorice stimulates uterine cramps. Drinking tea made out of raspberry leaves or cumin also helps in labor. It not only induces labor but a good health drink too. Constipation sometimes adversely affects the movement of baby and thereby delays labor pain. So eat plenty of foods that are rich in fiber like fruits and vegetables. Eating whole wheat bread is also an ideal food during this time. It can also give you the energy to push the baby out.
I do not know how effective they really are I did hear someone saying that foods rich in mucilage as seen in some vegetable leaves, okra and others are good stuffs that can promote quick labor. Although I haven't seen an experiment or scientific research on it but the confidence with which homoeopathic practitioner explained it with proofs of cases makes me think they maybe helpful.
I have read quite a lot of articles on this subject, and I have to say that I don't believe that any one food could induce quicker labor without being harmful to you. Of course I'm no expert and I could be wrong, but after all the research that I have done, the impression that I'm getting is that it's better to have a good diet and some exercise and generally stay healthy in order to have a timely labor.
I think there are actually food out there that can induce labor without any negative effect on the mother or baby. They are just same as our normal food, these set of food have the advantage of serving as medicinal agent helping in times of labor. I gathered vegetables especially the kind rich in mucilage are good in inducing labor.
I cannot comment on anything personal, but my wife swore by kiwi and pineapple when she was pregnant. I am not sure if it was just a catchall cure for everything or a general health thing, but she swore by them both.