If you landed on this post you are probably in the latter weeks of your pregnancy searching for ways to naturally induce labor. I truly enjoyed being pregnant, however the last few weeks were torture!
At the very end, we’re all in the ‘let’s get this baby out’ mindset. After 36 weeks, I began googling all of the tips and tricks to induce labor; some seemed practical and some seemed very off the wall.
When I came across curb walking for labor, I was very intrigued. I thought, could this really work? The answer is yes, curb walking can work!
If your body is ready to go into labor, but just needing an extra nudge, curb walking may be exactly what you need!
Curb walking is pretty straightforward and easy to do, but you may be wondering, what is curb walking and can curb walking help to induce labor? Read on for the answers!
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Does walking help to induce labor?
In the last weeks of pregnancy many women start to get ‘the waddle’. This is usually an indicator that the baby is starting to descend into the pelvis and begin getting ready for birth.
Walking can help the baby to move deeper into the pelvis. You definitely don’t want to exhaust yourself, but activity never hurts, especially in those last weeks.
Any sort of activity like walking that can help baby descend and rotate into optimal head down position is beneficial.
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What is curb walking?
Curb walking for labor is when you walk with one foot elevated on the curb and the other foot on the ground. The best thing about curb walking (or variation) is that it can be done almost anywhere.
Curb walking creates an uneven walking pattern (gait), causing your pelvis to open and allow the baby’s head to descend.
How to do curb walking to induce labor:
Even if your body is ready to go into labor, the baby may not be engaged enough or in the most ideal position. Curb walking can be helpful if you are contracting inconsistently, or your baby is needing some room to rotate into a better position.
Curb walking for labor may be exactly what you need to give the final nudge.
- Place one foot on the curb and the other foot on the ground.
- Begin walking. This will cause your pelvis to open, allowing the baby to descend. The extra wiggle room will help the baby settle deeper into your pelvis. When the baby’s head is deeper into the pelvis there is more pressure on your cervix causing dilation and effacement.
- I would suggest going for a walk and doing 10 minutes of curb walking.
- Try going both directions, alternating legs. If one direction feels more comfortable, stick with that side.
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What if I don’t live in an area with curbs?
If you happen to live in an area without curbs there are several easy solutions to try!
You can:
- Use the stairs: By going up and down the stairs you are opening up your pelvis and having an uneven gait similar to curb walking.
- Wear one high heel shoe: Wearing one high heel shoe and one flat shoe mimics the uneven height of curb walking, creating the unevenness in the pelvis.
- Try a short stool: You can even try doing step-ups onto a short stool if you don’t have another option. I would suggest bracing against a wall for stability.
You are almost there and your precious baby will be here before you know it! If you have tried natural ways to induce labor before, what were they and did anything work?
Let me know in the comments below!
