Toward the end of our pregnancies, we all make sure that we’ve gotten our baby items ready, taken our childbirth classes and newborn care classes, done the maternity hospital tour, etc. You may even see a chiropractor or acupuncturist to help your body prepare for the big day (which I highly recommend!). But did you know there are some items you can have at home to better prepare your body for labor and birth? Well, there are! Get your body ready for your baby’s big day with these helpful products.

NOTE: Always consult your physician or midwife before you take any of these suggestions.

10 Products To Prepare Your Body for Labor and Birth

Here’s what I recommend to better prepare your body for labor and birth:

1. Raspberry Leaf Tea

I’m sure you’ve all heard that raspberry leaf tea is good for women to drink during pregnancy. But do you know why? Studies have shown that it can help make labor faster with fewer complications and interventions during birth.¹⁰ Pretty amazing! Another study found that women who regularly consumed raspberry leaf tea were less likely to go past their baby’s due date or give birth prematurely. They were less likely to need their water broken by medical staff — artificial rupture of membranes (AROM). And they were less likely to require a cesarean section, forceps, or vacuum delivery.¹¹

Because of these benefits, I tried to drink 1-3 cups daily once I entered my third trimester, which is the standard recommendation. (But consult with your healthcare provider first.) I increased up to three cups per day once I reached 36 weeks and beyond. I’ve tested several raspberry leaf tea brands and highly recommend Earth Mama’s Organic Raspberry Leaf Tea. I really enjoyed the taste of their tea (some other brands I’ve tried aren’t as tasty). And I love that their product is USDA Certified 100% Organic!

Here are a few other incredible benefits that expecting and postpartum women may experience:

• May lessen morning sickness: It’s a widespread belief that raspberry leaf tea can potentially reduce morning sickness, though this hasn’t been clinically proven.^1,15
• May improve contractions: This tea might improve the effectiveness of your contractions. But again, more clinical studies are needed.^2,15 It may also reduce pain during labor and after birth. Because raspberry leaf tea might help strengthen and tone your uterus and pelvic floor, it may cause your labor to be shorter and less painful. But again, more research is needed.^2,17
• Benefits VBAC moms: Women who previously had C-sections have a higher chance of uterine rupture than those who haven’t. By regularly drinking raspberry leaf tea, women attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) can have a stronger uterus. This can help reduce their chances of uterine rupture and help achieve a VBAC.²
• Might help with lactation: Raspberry leaf tea has a high mineral count, which may help bring in breast milk.³ However, these lactation claims are supported by anecdotal evidence rather than clinical trials, so more research is needed.¹⁴

2. Birth Ball

A birthing ball is an exercise ball that we can use to get our bodies in shape during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.¹⁸ I highly recommend getting a birthing ball for these phases. If you’re curious how using a birth ball during pregnancy can be helpful, here are some of the benefits:

• Encourages optimal fetal positioning: When you sit on a birthing ball, you can’t slouch. You have to sit with good, proper posture. Keeping your core engaged and having good posture helps keep your body in alignment, encouraging your baby to be in the best position for labor and birth.⁴ This helps labor progress faster and allows you to have a less painful and more enjoyable birth!^5,18
• Helps baby drop lower in your pelvis: It opens your pelvis and hips to encourage your baby to drop lower into your pelvis. When this happens, your baby’s head applies pressure on your cervix, which can encourage dilation and effacement.^18,19
• Might encourage labor to begin (in some cases): Doing figure-8s and hip circles while sitting on a birth ball may encourage labor to begin on its own. Of course, this assumes that the woman is near her due date and that her body and baby are ready. There’s no evidence that this will cause you to go into preterm labor.

If you’re wondering what size birthing ball you should purchase, here are the recommendations by height:¹⁸

• 55 cm ball if you’re 5’4″ or shorter
• 65 cm ball if you’re between 5’4″ and 5’10”
• 75 cm ball if you’re 5’10” or taller

3. Peanut Ball

A peanut ball is another great product to prepare your body for labor and birth, specifically during your third trimester.²⁰ Like a birthing ball, a peanut ball can help get your baby in a better position for labor, which can help you go into labor sooner and have a faster birth.^20,21 Sitting on a peanut ball requires getting into a deeper squat than using a birth ball. This helps open your pelvis even more and apply more direct pressure on your cervix to promote dilation and effacement.^19,20

4. Homeopathic Childbirth Kit

If you’re interested in homeopathic remedies for labor and birth, this kit can be helpful for all stages, including after you’ve given birth. It has 18 remedies and even comes with an instructional booklet and access to a beginner course (so you don’t feel like you’re being thrown into the deep end!). It’s also super portable and easy to carry around with you.

Here are a few of my favorites that have helped some of my clients:

• Arnica montana and Bellis perennis: These are great for fear and fright and can help with swelling and inflammation (also useful during postpartum).^30,31
• Pulsatilla: I’ve seen this help with regulating irregular contractions. Some people have taken it to help flip a breech or transverse baby (before 38 weeks).^32,33
• Caulophyllum: This can be helpful with initiating labor and strengthening and toning the uterus. It can also help soften the cervix. (Start taking it at 38 weeks.)^34,35,36

5. Perineal Massager and Lube

Buy Perimom Buy Lube

Perineal massage is one way for women to prep their vaginas and perineum for labor. The American Pregnancy Association states, “Perineal massage during pregnancy involves the gentle, manual stretching of the tissues that shape the birth canal. The benefits of this ancient practice have been studied by researchers, and there is now strong scientific evidence indicating that when done regularly in the last 3 to 4 weeks of pregnancy, perineal massage increases your chance of delivering a baby vaginally without damaging your perineum, which results in a decreased chance of tearing and episiotomy.”¹²

Performing perineal massage can be difficult for women to do when they’re further along in their pregnancies. You can ask your partner to help with this task or purchase the perimom to do perineal massage on yourself. When performing the perineal massage, use a good lubricant to help make this uncomfortable stretching of the perineal tissues more comfortable.

6. Online Courses and Apps

Besides physically preparing your body for labor and birth, you also need to prepare mentally. I always say birth happens more between your ears, not between your legs! What I mean is labor and birth are so much more mental than physical. There are several online courses and apps I’d recommend investing in to help with mental preparation for birth, such as:

• Hypnobabies
• HypnoBirthing
• Expectful: Wellness for Moms app
• GentleBirth app

These types of resources can teach you about staying healthy during pregnancy and changes in the body during pregnancy and labor. You can also learn about making choices regarding medical procedures and medications, creating a birth plan, managing early days with baby, and more. As a result, you can feel more in control and relaxed and have a more enjoyable experience!

7. Pregnancy Books and Birth Affirmations

Similarly, it’s helpful to meditate on birth affirmations and read pregnancy books to build your confidence and understand what your labor and birth experience might be like. Educate yourself by reading about positive birth stories, and surround yourself with positive birth affirmations so your mind will be ready and excited for your big birthing day. (Here are some good pregnancy books I recommend to help with this.) If you prepare your mind for what’s to come, you can achieve more than you ever thought!

8. Dates

Dates are invaluable for pregnant women and women about to give birth. Here’s why eating dates during pregnancy can be beneficial:

• Potentially shorter labor: Dates contain certain stimulants that assist in strengthening the muscles of the womb, possibly leading to an easier delivery. Studies also suggest that dates can help ease delivery since they help with cervical dilation and can reduce labor duration and the need for induction and augmentation.^6,13
• More energy: Since dates have glucose, they’ll provide energy to the weakened body to revitalize it quickly. This is especially helpful to a woman in labor.⁶
• Stimulates oxytocin: Dates can stimulate oxytocin receptors, leading to muscle contractions that help in the milk secretion process for mothers. Plus, all pre-birth preparations in the body occur thanks to the hormone oxytocin.^6,23,25,26
• Reduced risk of postpartum hemorrhage and birth defects: Eating dates can help prevent postpartum bleeding.^7,22,25 In addition, dates contain folate, which helps prevent dangerous birth defects.^24,27

Also, dates are one of the best foods for breastfeeding mothers! They contain elements that enrich the milk with nutrients that make a healthy and disease-resistant baby.¹¹

9. Gentle Birth

I SWEAR by this. I was only in true labor for four hours before I needed to start pushing. And that was my first birth! With my second baby, I was only in labor for two hours. And I’m not the only one who feels this way. Many women claim Gentle Birth helped them have a quick and less painful labor. Whether it’s a placebo effect or not, it really helped my body open. Gentle Birth claims the following:

• Less pain during labor and delivery
• Advance dilation before discomfort was felt
• Shorter and easier labor
• Shorter recovery time
• Recommended by over 90% of women who tried the Original Gentle Birth Formula

I only heard great things about it, so I used it during both of my pregnancies. I thought, “What could it hurt?” And I’m happy I did! (NOTE: Discuss with your doctor or midwife before taking it.) If your healthcare provider gives you the green light to use Gentle Birth, begin taking it five weeks before your estimated due date. It’s a great way to prepare your body for labor and birth. Follow these steps:

• Week one: Take ¼ teaspoon before morning and evening meals.
• Week two: Take ¼ teaspoon three times daily before meals. Maintain this dosage until delivery.

10. Evening Primrose Oil

If you’re approaching your baby’s due date or have passed it, one option you may have considered is evening primrose oil. This is an herbal oil derived from primrose plant seeds. Many women have used evening primrose oil for decades to help with cervical dilation to prepare their bodies for labor.²⁸

Evening primrose oil doesn’t induce labor per se. But when taken orally or vaginally, it’s believed to act as a prostaglandin that softens and ripens the cervix.⁸ As the cervix ripens, contractions are triggered, leading to labor or Braxton-Hicks contractions.¹⁹ Additionally, the cervix’s softening may help make labor and delivery quicker and easier.²⁹

I know of several women who claim that evening primrose oil helped their bodies go into labor. Some evidence suggests that evening primrose oil’s mild prostaglandin effect will only trigger labor in women ready to deliver and cannot trigger premature labor. However, many OB-GYN doctors strongly feel there’s a risk of premature labor and that use shouldn’t be encouraged.⁹ This is why you should discuss it with your care provider beforehand. NOTE: Do not try to induce labor before 40 weeks of pregnancy.

I hope you find these items helpful in preparation for your baby’s birth! Do you recommend other products to help women prepare their bodies and minds for labor and birth?