Past your due date? Bring on labour with our Doula tips

If you’re past your due date and feeling anxious about your baby’s debut, there are a few ways you can help them along, with these tips by registered nurse and midwife, Sister Burgie Ireland.

Good to know: First born babies often come a few days to two weeks late because a new mom’s muscles and ligaments are still firm and tight, which means labour takes longer to get started.

Draw a long, warm bath: Anything that relaxes you and increases your oxytocin levels can help to bring on labour (if you’re over your due date that is). Run a warm bath with some relaxing essentials oils, light some candles, and a diffuser and listen to a couple of your favourite relaxing songs. Close your eyes and use the visualisation technique of taking yourself to your own relaxed or special space.

Stopping looking at the calendar: The stress hormone adrenalin can prevent labour from starting (weird right – you’d think that stress would bring on labour). If you have any fears about the birth or parenting, write them down or talk to your partner about them. Fear can have a profound effect on how the subconscious mind feels about starting the process of labour. Remember it needs to feel like it’s ‘safe’ to release your baby into the world.

Get a foot massage: Reflexology with a properly trained and experienced reflexologist can also help bring on labour. Relaxing, getting pampered, nurtured, and cared for will all help to boost your body’s oxytocin levels.

Have a good laugh: Put on your favourite comedy show or movie and have a good laugh. When you laugh, you produce happy hormones, which prevents your body from producing stress hormones. Susan says feeling safe and relaxed are great tonics for the anxiety that can start to creep in during the last days of pregnancy.

Have more sex: The hormone oxytocin is released when you kiss, hug, have sex or an orgasm with the person you love – and this is exactly the hormone you need to kickstart labour.

Eat your favourite meal: It doesn’t have to be spicy – as long as it’s something you enjoy eating. Eating delicious food surrounded by people who love you and having a good time will all help you feel happy – releasing the oxytocin hormone. Go to a restaurant with friends and family, or order your favourite meal in.

Get moving: Getting outside in nature can help release that ever-important feel-good hormone and even stop you from going crazy while impatiently waiting for your baby’s arrival. The movement of walking can help babies head position down into your pelvis too.