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Ask A Midwife

Q. My baby is due today. But so far, no sign that anything is going to happen. I have had two other children so I sort of what I'm looking for. We have to leave town very shortly and I would really prefere to have the baby while we are still here. My question is weather there is anything that I can do to help start labor? Or do I have to just wait it out?

A. Most babies do not arrive on their due date, and actually, for the average well-nourished woman, most babies will arrive approximately a week later. When it is her first baby, it is common for labor to not begin for at least 2 weeks. Yes, there are ways to encourage labor to begin, both naturally and medically. It is most important to be patient and wait for the baby to show its own signs that he is ready to come. Perhaps the baby has additional development to complete. It is safest to not interrupt that process if you are healthy. Since the safety of inducing your labor can depend on your own health and pregnancy history, the questions of what to actually use to induce are best asked of your caregiver.

Vickii Gervais is a Certified Professional Midwife who has attended over 600 births.