There are in essence two main schools of thought for how to induce labor - using drugs, or using only natural methods. We will discuss just the natural methods here since women can do more themselves, and can try more things out.

Please be aware that, like with most things about health, stop if anything hurts too much or you think there's an emergency. When you have questions, discuss things with your doctor, doula, or midwife if you have any questions or concerns. These methods can help induce labor but always verify with a doctor.

Sex - There are a number of ways sex can induce labor. Semen contains natural agents that ripen your cervix. Female orgasms also can produce contractions in women in late term pregnancies. Also, by relaxing physically and emotionally for sex, you might remove some mental blocks to starting contractions. It might sound like a hassle if you're not in the mood to have sex. Just remember it might work if you're looking to know how to induce labor in a fun way.

Physical Activity - Maybe your labor is slow because your baby is needing to descend? If so, try some simple physical movements. Doing simple physical activity like easy jogging, swimming, or skipping might do the trick. This is because as you move around, so does your baby, and it can rotate into a better position to start descending. Plus the moving around can make your body feel much better all around in general.

Acupressure - Acupressure is part of Chinese traditional medicine and involves applying pressure with your fingers to certain parts of your body. By stimulating the correct places, some women go into labor within a few hours. It's a very simple process and starts in more than 80% of women who are ready. It also has the added bonus of being a natural pain killer.

Herbal Solutions - If you can find an herbalist or other trained care giver, ask if they can help you take some herbs to start your contractions. The common ones used include black cohash, blue cohash, evening primrose oil, and red raspberry leaf tea. Some women say these herbs work very well for them. If you have someone to help you this might be something to pursue.

As you can see, there are many different ways to learn how to induce labor. For most women there is uncertainty about when they will start labor. By making sure to listen to your body and working with it, you can be holding your newborn very soon.