There is not much scientific basis for eating labor-inducing foods, that is why some people think that they are just old wives' tales. But for expectant mothers who have watched their due dates come and go, anything seems worth trying. Here are some of the most popular foods that mothers believe helped speed up the time between now and delivery. Just be sure to check with your health practitioner or doctor before consuming anything that is not already a part of your normal diet.
Eggplant parm
An Italian restaurant named Scalini's in Georgia has 300 pictures of babies on their wall. The babies were said to be born after their mothers ate a plate of the eggplant parm on the menu. And now, Scalini's officially guarantees that those who eat the eggplant parm will go into labor.
Lemon drop cupcakes
In 2013, a bakery in Virginia claimed to have sent 150 mothers into labor after eating their lemon drop cupcake. Cappellino's Crazy Cakes has since closed, but for all pregnant mothers, you can still get a taste of their lemon drop cupcakes as there are numerous recipes of it online.
Shrimp quesadillas
Four women went into labor after eating the shrimp quesadillas at Las Margaritas, a local restaurant in Florida. The waitresses of the restaurant do not know why this happened, but they still see the mothers visit the restaurant with their little ones.
Pineapple
According to some mothers, the best way to go is to eat pineapples. Even though it has never been proven, there were moms who swear by it. Bromelain, the proteolytic enzyme that is found in pineapples can help soften the tissue surrounding the cervix, but whether or not that could bring about labor is something that still needs to be proven.
Red raspberry leaf tea
Using raspberry leaf for medicinal and therapeutic purposes was written way back in 1597 in a book called "The Herbal." Today, it is not just pregnant women who still flock to the plant in tea form, but red raspberry leaf tea is also used to treat painful and heavy periods, gastrointestinal tract disorders and morning sickness.
A slice of pizza
A pizza restaurant in North Carolina, Hawthorne's New York Pizza and Bar, has become a favorite spot for pregnant women who want to deliver their baby smoothly and early. The restaurant now calls the pizza "The Inducer." The toppings are mozzarella, buffalo sauce, and grilled chicken.
Spicy foods
Spicy foods can irritate your intestines, which may cause uterine contractions and cramp for women who are already dilated. That said, there is no evidence to support the theory that spicy food induces labor. Currently, only one study has found a connection between eating spicy food and going into labor, but that study focused only on preterm births.
Dates
In one study, women ate six dates a day in the month leading up to their due dates had a higher chance of going into labor on their own and had higher cervical dilation when they were admitted. A recent study suggests that eating dates has no impact on kick-starting labor, but it may help with the later stages of labor. Dates are high in fiber, and an increase in the amount of fiber can cause digestive issues and cramping, so it is possible that the effect of eating dates every day is similar to the effect of eating spicy foods.
Green Papaya
Raw green papayas have a lot of enzymes named Papin. Papaya leaves contain latex which acts as oxytocin and prostaglandin and it can help start contractions. The more the papaya ripens, the more papin is lost which is why eating a ripened papaya will not have any type of effect when it comes to inducing labor.
Garlic
Garlic can stimulate the bowels, it can help empty them out which can then help in starting labor. It is one of the most popular foods to help induce labor.
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