Have you heard of Brown sugar to induce labor?

Question

No I'm not trying to do this, I just heard of it. And some women swear by it.

What you do is put 3 tablespoons of brown sugar in a half cup of hot water, let cool and drink.

I'm not sure how it would work, but those who have tried it said it brought on labor, within 48 hours or at least lost there mucus plug.

I was just curious if anyone of you has tried it or if you know how it would even work?

Answer 1

It can't possibly work.

Real labour will start when your body starts to produce oxytocin and prostoglandins in significant volumes, two hormones that specifically cause the uterus to thin out and dilate and the uterus to contract.

NOTHING else will do it - not spicy food, not walking, not s*x, not herbs, not eating pineapple, not castor oil and certainly not brown sugar.

If your body isn't ready, labour own't start.  If any of the "home remedies" actually do work, then it's a co-incidence and labour would have started anyway.

Answer 2

i'd imagine the theory behind it is that the molasses (what makes brown sugar brown) can act as a laxative, stimulating bowel contractions. it's the same concept as castor oil- the hope that bowel/intestinal contracting will stimulate uterine contractions.

as another answerer already said, it won't work unless you were about to start anyway.

Answer 3

i've heard of brown sugar to relieve constipation in mothers to be and infants in the method u describe, but not to bring on labour. walking (well at that stage- waddling) and s*x are tried and tested in my household. (i have 3 boys) i've heard of cod liver oil, aromatherapy oils massaged onto abdomen to induce labour, i've even heard of having an enima to bring it on- but s*x is good. (it's the sperm that acts as an inducing agent and the o****m a contraction)  

Answer 4

nope