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Can You Use Cumin Tea To Induce Labor?

There are very few things that can match the discomfort of being pregnant past the 40-week mark. If you’re already at the 40-week mark, it means that you’re about to be overdue.

Because of the complications that may come with this, not to mention the discomfort, most doctors will want to induce labor. However, this comes with its own set of risks.

This often leads to pregnant women trying at-home remedies to induce their labor. One of the most popular methods is to drink a cup of cumin tea. 

Make Sure It’s Safe For You To Drink Cumin Tea

Before you learn how to make cumin tea, etc. it is a good idea to make sure that it’s safe for you to do this.

First, you should not try to use natural methods to induce your labor unless you are 40 weeks along. Your baby may not be ready to be born before this, and inducing your labor may cause complications. 

You should also avoid using any herbal or other natural remedies without prior approval from your doctor. Your doctor or midwife can advise you of certain things that you should avoid.

For example, people with a heart condition or clotting disorder should avoid cumin tea. Other natural methods to induce labor may have other side effects. It’s always best to ask your health care provider before trying any of them. 

Does Cumin Tea Actually Work To Induce Labor?

Yes, it does have the potential to induce labor. Cumin tea helps induce labor by speeding up your metabolic rate.

This can then induce contractions, getting the process going. Spicy foods are said to do the same thing. It’s believed that this increase is what makes certain foods help start labor. 

However, it should be noted that cumin tea has not been scientifically proven to induce labor. This means that it might work, but it might not.

Regardless, you can trust that it’s safe to drink. If you’re ready to induce labor naturally, this isn’t going to hurt you or your baby.

Cropped shot of woman making tea while having tea ceremony

How To Prepare Cumin Tea

First, take a deep breath and find something to chase it with. Cumin tea is not the most delicious drink in the world. In fact, it’s far from it.

It can leave a taste in your mouth that you’ll want to wash down with some flavored water or juice. Go ahead and get something now so that you have it when you want it.

Things You’ll Need:

  • A teaspoon of cumin seeds (do not use cumin powder)
  • saucepan
  • water
  • strainer
  • honey (add a teaspoon to make your cumin tea test a little bit better after it’s in your cup)

First, put the saucepan on low heat and add the cumin seeds. You want to cook them just a tiny bit. Gently stir them as if you are sauteeing them for 1-2 minutes.

Then, add enough water for a cup of tea. (If your teacups are eight ounces, you’ll want eight ounces of water.) An easy way to measure this is to fill up your cup with water, and pour that into the saucepan. 

Heat on high until the water is boiling. Let it boil for 1-2 minutes. Then, steep your tea for five minutes. Finally, using the strainer to catch the cumin seeds, pour the tea into your cup and enjoy!

Other Natural Methods To Induce Labor

Cumin tea is one of the more popular natural methods to induce labor, but it’s not the only choice that you have. These other options may also be effective to help you avoid medically induced labor if you can. 

Enjoy Plenty Of Spicy Food

Spicy food speeds up your metabolic rate just like cumin tea does. If the tea itself is not an option, try to enjoy the spiciest food that you can handle. However, if cumin tea did not work, this more than likely won’t induce your labor either. 

Gentle Exercise Is Wonderful For You

When they say exercise can induce labor, they might not be wrong. Although it is not scientifically proven to work, it does get the heart rate up, which can induce labor.

This doesn’t mean do intense workouts until your contractions start, however. Walking or using your exercise ball is plenty, as long as it makes your heart rate speed up a little bit.

If you exercise consistently, it can help keep you in shape, which can make labor easier. 

Having Sex Can Induce Labor

As with all-natural methods to induce labor, there is no scientific proof that having sex can jump start contractions.

However, when a female has sex, it releases hormone-like substances that are called prostaglandins. These are also used in medications to induce labor. 

Before jumping right into this one, make sure that you’ve got the okay from your doctor or midwife. If they have advised you not to have sex for your pregnancy, it’s not okay to do it in order to induce labor naturally either.

If they told you not to because they were concerned about pre-term labor, give them a phone call to ask if it’s okay to have sex now. 

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening primrose oil helps induce labor naturally by helping your body create those same prostaglandins that are produced during sex.

You know, the same ones that are used to induce labor when they do it in the hospital. This is a great idea if you aren’t able to have sexual intercourse, or simply aren’t comfortable doing so. 

In Conclusion

There are plenty of methods that can be used to naturally induce labor. Drinking cumin tea is one of the more popular methods to use.

Make sure that you steep it correctly so that you are giving it the best possible chance to induce labor. If this doesn’t work or isn’t safe for you, try one of the other natural methods to induce labor. 

Before trying natural methods to induce labor, make sure that you speak with your health care provider. They can give you tips on methods that they have seen work, and help you pick natural ways to induce labor that are safe for you. 

Medical Disclaimer. All content and media on the MomInformed Website is created and published online for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.