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The 4 Things I Did to Prepare for Labor (As an L&D Nurse & Mom of Two)

As an L&D nurse and mom of two, I'm sharing the four labor prep methods I personally used starting at 37 weeks and the products that became part of my nightly routine.

7/4/20266 min read

The 4 Things I Did to Prepare My Body for Labor (That I Believe Helped My Fast Deliveries)

If you've spent any time on pregnancy TikTok or Pinterest, you've probably seen dozens of "natural labor induction" tips. As a labor and delivery nurse, I've heard them all—and I've watched thousands of women go into labor.

The truth? There is no guaranteed way to start labor if your body and baby aren't ready. If there were, every overdue mom would be doing it!

That being said, there are several things that may help prepare your body for labor as you approach full term. I personally started incorporating these habits around 37 weeks pregnant with both of my babies.

Did these things cause my labor?

I can't honestly say that they did.

What I can tell you is this:

My water broke spontaneously with both pregnancies.

I had relatively fast labors both times.

I felt like my body was preparing for labor in the weeks leading up to delivery.

These simple habits became part of my nightly routine and made me feel proactive while waiting for baby.

As always, talk with your OB or midwife before starting any supplements or labor preparation methods, especially if you have pregnancy complications or have been advised against them.

Here are the four things I personally used.

1. Bouncing on a Birthing Ball Every Night

Shop the birthing ball I used

One of the biggest parts of my evening routine was spending time on my birthing ball.

Instead of sitting on the couch, I'd sit on the ball while watching TV and gently bounce, rock my hips, and make circles.

Why I Loved It

The birthing ball helps encourage optimal fetal positioning by allowing your pelvis to stay open and mobile. Many moms also find it relieves:

Low back pain

Pelvic pressure

Hip discomfort

Tight muscles late in pregnancy

As labor approaches, many providers recommend movement because gravity and upright positioning may help baby settle lower into the pelvis.

I would usually combine this with an evening walk and then spend another 20–30 minutes bouncing before bed.

Interestingly, almost every night after doing this, I noticed I would start having regular contractions for a while before they settled back down.

Was I in labor?

No.

But it definitely felt like my uterus was practicing.

Those "practice contractions" (Braxton Hicks) are completely normal and help prepare your uterus for the real thing.

If you're approaching your due date, a birthing ball is one of my favorite pregnancy purchases because you'll likely continue using it during early labor as well.

2. Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

My favorite raspberry leaf tea

Every single evening, I'd make a cup of red raspberry leaf tea.

This has been used for generations during late pregnancy and is probably one of the most talked-about natural labor preparation methods.

What It's Thought to Do

Contrary to popular belief, red raspberry leaf tea is not believed to induce labor directly.

Instead, it's thought to:

Help tone the uterine muscle

Support more coordinated contractions

Prepare the uterus for labor

Think of it like training a muscle before a marathon.

A stronger, more coordinated uterus may be better prepared once labor naturally begins.

Research on red raspberry leaf tea is mixed, and more high-quality studies are needed. Some studies suggest it may shorten parts of labor or reduce certain interventions, while others show little difference. Because of this, it's best viewed as a traditional labor-prep practice rather than a proven labor inducer.

For me, it became part of my nightly routine.

I'd drink my tea while sitting on my birthing ball, relaxing after work, and almost every night I'd notice my uterus becoming more active with mild contractions.

Whether that was coincidence or preparation, I genuinely enjoyed making it part of my labor routine.

3. Eating Dates Daily

Organic Medjool dates I bought

This was honestly the easiest habit to stick with.

Starting around 37 weeks, I tried to eat dates every day.

If you've never had Medjool dates before, they're naturally sweet and almost taste like caramel.

I usually ate them:

Plain

Stuffed with peanut butter

Added to smoothies

With cream cheese for a quick snack

Why Are Dates Popular Before Labor?

Several studies have suggested that eating dates during the last few weeks of pregnancy may help with cervical ripening.

Cervical ripening means your cervix gradually becomes:

Softer

Thinner (effacement)

More favorable for labor

Some research has also found women who regularly consumed dates late in pregnancy were more likely to arrive at the hospital with greater cervical dilation and may have needed less medication to start labor. However, the evidence is still limited, so dates shouldn't be viewed as a guaranteed way to make labor easier.

Do dates magically start labor?

No.

But they are a healthy snack packed with:

Fiber

Potassium

Natural sugars for energy

Antioxidants

Even if they don't change your labor, they're still an easy pregnancy snack with nutritional benefits.

4. Evening Primrose Oil

The evening primrose oil I personally used

Evening primrose oil is probably the most controversial item on this list.

As an L&D nurse, I've seen many moms ask about it, and it's something I personally chose to use after discussing it with my provider.

I used it in two ways:

Orally

Vaginally at bedtime

My Personal Experience

I noticed something interesting.

Whenever I inserted the capsule vaginally before bed, I frequently woke up with noticeable cramping overnight.

Was that true labor?

No.

But it definitely felt like my cervix and uterus were becoming more active.

Again, this is only my personal experience.

How It's Thought to Work

Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), a fatty acid that may be converted into prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins play a role in cervical softening and ripening as labor approaches.

The research, however, is mixed. Studies have not consistently shown that evening primrose oil shortens labor or improves outcomes, and some experts recommend caution because high-quality evidence is lacking.

Because of that, it's important to only use it after discussing it with your healthcare provider, especially if you have a high-risk pregnancy or other medical concerns.

Don't Forget the Walking

Although it isn't one of my "top four" products, I honestly think walking deserves an honorable mention.

I walked almost every single day during those last few weeks.

Walking helps keep your pelvis moving, encourages baby into an optimal position, improves circulation, and simply kept me feeling better physically and mentally.

Many evenings looked like this:

✔ Go for a walk

✔ Drink raspberry leaf tea

✔ Bounce on my birthing ball

✔ Eat my dates

✔ Take my evening primrose oil

It became a calming nighttime ritual that helped me feel prepared for labor.

Did These Things Cause My Labor?

I honestly don't know.

As nurses, we know labor is incredibly complex.

Hormones, baby's position, genetics, cervical readiness, and many other factors all work together when labor begins.

I can't promise these four things will give you a fast labor.

I can't promise they'll start contractions.

I can't promise they'll prevent an induction.

What I can say is that I personally used these methods with both pregnancies beginning around 37 weeks. My water broke on its own both times, and I experienced relatively fast labors. Whether these habits contributed or whether my body was simply ready is impossible to know.

Every pregnancy is different.

If you're approaching the finish line, think of these habits as ways to support your body's natural preparation rather than guaranteed methods to induce labor.