How to Speed Up Labor: Natural Ways that Work!

Looking to have an easy and fast labor and delivery? These tried and true tips for an easy labor are proven to work!

As a labor and delivery nurse, the number one question that patients ask is “how much longer? When will the baby be born?“

It’s the magic question, right? How much longer until the pain stops and my baby is earth-side? If you knew how long the pain would last, it wouldn’t seem so bad. It’s the feeling of it being never-ending that is so exhausting.

Good news is that there are things that you can do to make labor easier.

Sure, there are medical interventions that can make labor faster. Starting oxytocin and having a provider break your water are two things that come to mind. But if you’re looking for how to speed up labor naturally, you’ve come to the right place!

tried and true ways to speed up labor. How to have a faster labor

Disclaimer: this post is meant for entertainment purposes and is not intended to replace advice given to you by your medical providers. Always consult with your provider. This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if a purchase is made using these links.

How long does normal labor last?

The length of your labor is dependent on several things.

First time moms tend to have a longer labor than moms who have labored before.

Labors that begin with induction often last longer than labors that start naturally.

According to this article by the Mayo Clinic, the first stage of labor can last hours to days, while active labor tends to last between 4 to 8 hours and pushing can take anywhere from minutes to hours.

It typically takes several hours of strong, long, and regular contractions to dilate enough to be able to push.

good contractions are long strong and regular

From my personal and professional experience, I definitely agree with the timelines that the Mayo Clinic article describes in a typical birth scenario. Dilating from 0-5cm definitely takes a lot more time than dilating from 5-10cm.

Additionally, the position of the baby can affect the speed of labor. If a baby is well engaged in the pelvis and their head puts pressure on the cervix, you are more likely to have a fast labor.

How to make labor easier and faster

Stay active

Staying active is an important way to have a healthy pregnancy, but it can also speed up labor!It can be tempting to lay in bed and curl into a ball, but this may not be the best thing for your body.

As I mentioned above, the position of the baby can affect the speed of labor. Having a baby engaged in the pelvis with their head well applied to the cervix can speed up dilation.

Staying active and keeping muscles and ligaments loose may help the pelvis open up and make room for the baby’s head to come down!

There are many different positions you can labor in, even if you have an epidural or require continuous monitoring.

Here are some positions to labor in:

Sit on a birthing ball
Stand or sway with contractions
Squat (have your support person help you)
Sitting in a chair or rocking chair
Taking a shower or bath
Walking
Laying in bed with a pillow or peanut ball between your knees (be sure to change sides that you lay on frequently)
Hands and knees

If you have an epidural, your position choices are going to be more limited. Rolling from side to side, sitting straight up, and sometimes even hands and knees is possible with an epidural!

You can ask your nurse, doula, or support person to help you try some different positions with an epidural. While it may be comfortable to just rest on your back, you may find that you’re sore the next day from laying in one position too long!

Use a peanut ball to speed up labor

Peanut balls are longer than birthing balls, and are perfect for using in a bed. They are particularly helpful in women with epidurals!

Peanut balls have been scientifically proven to shorten labor and reduce the rate of cesarean deliveries.

Although peanut balls are not the world’s most comfortable tool, they help keep muscles loose, open the pelvis, and make extra room for baby.

Breathe through contractions (don’t fight them!)

Once active labor hits, you almost develop an aura before the contraction starts. It’s easy to tense up and try to fight the contraction, but instead try to let the contraction happen. Accept that pain is a normal part of birth.

This is much easier said than done. But when you start labor with the mindset that things will hurt and that’s OK, it can be much easier to control your body when you hit active labor.

I try to coach myself (and my patients!) through letting the contraction come and go. Ride the wave and let it go away. Breathe in, and blow the contraction out slowly.

It’s not an easy thing to accomplish, but it can be incredibly helpful to visualize the contraction leaving your body with the pain.

When mom fights contractions, they often hold themselves back! When the body and mind are stressed, it does not dilate as quickly.

In fact, there was a study done that showed that moms with high levels of stress during labor had more painful labors!

In moms that are incredibly anxious and tense, I often find that epidurals actually speed labor along, because it allows them to relax and the cervix dilates quickly.

Get yourself to a good headspace and stay there!

Say what you need (pain relief, water, rest, etc.)

It can be easy to get into your own head and feel overwhelmed in labor. But stating your needs can be very therapeutic and calming!

If you’re thirsty, have a sip of water! If the room is too loud, ask for some quiet. It is your labor, and you can have a say in how it goes!

Have a good support system

Bringing along a strong supporter for your labor is incredibly important. Your labor will be significantly better if you have a strong person by your side. One or two people (whatever your hospital will allow) is plenty of support, as research has also suggested that a lack of privacy in labor can slow labor down!

Navigating childbirth alone is a difficult task, and as much as your medical team wants to help you it isn’t the same as having a support person you know and trust.

Whether it be a doula, your partner, a parent or a friend, make your wishes known beforehand and tell your partner what you’ll need.

There’s a lot of pressure when you’re someone’s support person in labor! This post can be a good place for your supporter to start and learn what’s expected of them.

Drinking red raspberry leaf tea to shorten labor

Red raspberry leaf tea has long been suggested by midwives to shorten labor. It is thought that it can tone the uterus and prepare the body for contractions when labor does start.

According to this article on Healthline, raspberry leaf tea may shorten labor while also reducing the rate of cesarean birth.

You should always discuss with your doctor before starting a supplement regimen such as raspberry leaf tea. Additionally, you should only drink raspberry leaf tea when well intp your third trimester so as not to start preterm labor and birth.

Earth Mama Organics makes a raspberry leaf tea that is both potent and delicious! I recommend purchasing a high quality tea such as this one, since there are many brands that are loaded with fillers and other herbs that may counteract the efficacy.

I drank raspberry leaf tea at the end of both of my pregnancies. I’m not sure don’t know whether it was the tea or my body, but I did have quick labors with induction.

Having a quick and easy labor is everyone’s dream!

I hope these tips help to speed up your labor and give you a quick and healthy birth.

Check out all of my labor and delivery posts for more great information!