Has anyone heard of black licorice to induce labor?

Question

I am almost 39 weeks pregnant and somebody told me that eating black licorice can induce labor. Has anyone else heard about this? If so, does it really work?

Answer 1

I've heard of it, but I think all of these things are old wives tales and any that work are just coincidences. The only thing I know of that is proven through scientific study is nipple stimulation, and that was a study where the women stimulated their nipples for THREE HOURS every day, and the result was that none of them went over their due date. (Of course, when you are desperate like me, you will try it even if you don't do it for three hours, lol)

Castor oil is NOT a good thing to try. It causes severe digestional cramps, not uterine contractions.

A new study found that sex does NOT help the onset of labor and may possibly prolong the onset of labor.

Walking MAY help because it helps the baby position itself.

Good luck to you! I am 37.5 weeks and going NUTS! I am ready for this baby to be here! I have been reading up on all of this stuff, too. :)
Here is a link for all the stuff you can TRY. Like I said, after all the reading I've done, though, I think that the things that work tend to work coincidentally and not by any scientific reasoning. In fact, they think labor is brought on by both the hormones in the mother AND in the baby, so if the baby is not releasing hormones yet, probably nothing you do will bring it on. And if you notice, most people who say "This worked for me" were already overdue, and it probably would have come on it's own without the agony of castor oil mixed with orange juice (which is another one I've heard of, but everyone I know who has tried it said they ended up with the most painful digestive problems they ever experienced and no baby!)

http://justmommies.com/articles/natural_labor_induction.shtml

Answer 2

No, but I heard about eating Eggplant Parmigian with lots of sauce will do the magic. There is a restaurant I believe in New York City that serves it, and pregnant moms come just to have it for dinner when they are desperate to induce labor.

Answer 3

It seems I have heard of this. I believe it's another old wives' tale.
There is a substance in licorice that can induce uterine contractions but the substance has to be ingested in far larger amounts than any amount of licorice you could consume.

Answer 4

Yes I've heard of this and also Castor oil... although neither worked for me when my daugfhter was 10 days past the due date. The only thing that did was my husband drove around and hit every pot hole on the street he could find... went into labor 3 hrs later :- ) Good luck.

Answer 5

I haven't heard of that, but someone told me to take an Exlax tablet and that worked. I was overdue, and I just took one before I went to bed, and then by morning I was in labor! Coincidence or not I'll never know. I would imagine any laxative would work.

Be careful though and good luck.

Answer 6

I've heard of that...don't know anyone who's tried it though---if you want to induce labor though, why not try it? What could it hurt? If you do find out that it works let us know!

Answer 7

no sorry not heard of that one!but try sex that worked for me and i was 11 days over so i was willing to try anything.
good luck when labor comes and don't forget to breathe.lol

Answer 8

I have heard of so many things and believe me I tried them, none of them worked. The baby will come when it is suppose to.

Answer 9

i don't think that it does work because my mom had a licorice fedish when she was pergnant with me and i was late because i was so big and she ate all kinds

Answer 10

I am due July 15th and I am afraid to take anything just because it can pass on to the baby.