It’s the waiting.
The long stretch of days where every twinge, every cramp, every shift makes you wonder—is this it?
The way your hands move over your belly, how you whisper to the baby inside, how you watch the calendar and try to will the days forward.
And somewhere in that waiting, someone tells you:
“Have sex, it’s a natural method for labor induction”
“Try nipple stimulation. It worked for my sister’s friend’s cousin.”
You hear the stories, the well-meaning advice, the quiet maybe this will work.
And so you wonder.
Is it true? Can your body be nudged into labor, just like that?
It’s a great question. And I’ve been there 4 times – so I know what it feels like to feel ready (but also trying so hard to be patient), while everyone is telling you all the things they did to get their baby to come out. Let’s get into the sex, nipple stimulation and natural induction conversation. Because I am certain someone has shared this “natural induction” method with you (or they will soon).

Before we go much deeper into sex and labor induction and nipple stimulation – Who is The Labor Mama and Why Am I Here?
Hey friend! I’m Lo – also known around here and social media as The Labor Mama. I’ve spent my nursing career in labor, delivery, and postpartum, have birthed 4 of my own babies, have labored thousands of mamas at the bedside, have taught thousands of students online, and have even delivered a few speedy little babies with my bare hands (oops).
Here at TLM, I offer online classes about birth, postpartum, newborn care, and breastfeeding to empower you the way everyone should be. The education + support I offer gives you experience, evidence, and empathy; you’re getting all of my years of “clinical” RN knowledge, honestly combined with my real experiences as a mama and a nurse. These are not your average hospital classes (those won’t do it, I promise), and honestly, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding don’t follow a textbook or protocol anyway. You need to know so much more than that!
If you want to connect with me further, head to Instagram. There are hundreds of thousands of us over there learning together daily.
A note: This post may include affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission (thank you)! Rest assured, this comes at no additional cost to you. You can read TLM’s full disclosure here.
Sex and Labor Induction: The Theory and The Science
It’s one of the first things people say—sex and labor induction often go hand in hand in old wives’ tales. But does science back it up?
Here’s the thing:
- Semen carries prostaglandins, hormones that help soften and ripen the cervix.
- Orgasm causes uterine contractions, which can feel like or mimic early labor.
- If there’s nipple stimulation, oxytocin is released, which is definitely THE very hormone that fuels contractions.
It sounds like a perfect recipe. But science doesn’t confirm it—not really.
A 2019 study looked at this exact question and found no solid evidence that sex can actually start labor. The prostaglandins, the contractions, the oxytocin—they’re there and they aren’t totally irrelevant details, but they don’t necessarily add up to labor beginning.
Fun fact: I used to work with a midwife from australia who told me I needed a “whale’s amount of semen” to actually have sex put someone into labor. I never tested the theory 🤣 – I’m just gonna believe her.
When you hear people say sex worked, you’ve got to remember that their body was very likely already going to go into labor. This is true for A LOT of natural induction methods. It’s not they pushed the body into labor, but they were the thing someone tried before labor started. And so – we say “it worked!” – without really recognizing that the body was already doing its thing.
Ok, back to sex at the end of pregnancy. Ultimately, it’s probably safe for most pregnancies. If there is a reason you think you maybe shouldn’t be having penetrative intercourse at that point, definitely ask your provider about it first. But it’s REALLY likely it’s totally fine and it’s more about you wanting to do it and feeling good doing it at that point (some do, some doing).
Overall, wanted sex (at any point) is connection, intimacy, and a moment with your partner in the waiting. That is sure to release lots of oxytocin, and that is always a good thing both before labor and inside of it. So if nothing else, that alone might be worth it!
But Can Nipple Stimulation Start Labor?
Now onto nipple stimulation…that’s a different story!
This one has more research behind it—more evidence that suggests it could, in fact, help! Why? Because nipple stimulation releases oxytocin (in more regular rhythms), and oxytocin is what makes labor happen.
Studies show nipple stimulation may:
- Encouraging the cervix to soften can improve the Bishop score, which assesses cervical readiness for labor. (Curious about “readiness” of your cervix and what that means? Check out this blog post.)
- Increase the chances of labor starting within 72 hours
- Strengthen contractions once they begin
It’s a tool. And it can be a powerful one. And because it’s powerful, it’s not something to use without care.
Too much, too soon, and it is possible contractions can come too fast, too strong—more than your baby is ready for. That’s why most providers will say to wait until 39 weeks to try this – so please check with them first.
Typically, once you ask about this, your provider will give you some sort of “routine” to do. Using a pump or your hands, it will likely be something like “Do X minutes of stimulation” or “Stimulate until you feel 2 contractions X minutes apart” or something like that. This can very often be done at home. And, I’ve definitely had patients doing it at the hospital just because and/or as part of their induction process!
Ultimately, nipple stimulation is not a guarantee. But it’s definitely something to consider, with some good evidence behind it!
So, Can You Make Labor Start?
We want to believe that we can, right? That there’s a way to push past the waiting, to step into the moment we’ve been anticipating for so long.
But the truth?
- Sex might help, but research doesn’t prove it.
- Nipple stimulation has more backing, but needs to be used with care.
- Research shows us a HUGE majority of people normally deliver after their due date (between 40 3/7 and 40 5/7 days), so it’s normal to be at that point.
- Your body knows what to do and learning to trust it is HUGE in these last weeks too.
Labor isn’t a switch. It’s a slow build, a dance of hormones and time, a process that definitely unfolds in its own way when we can let it.
And yet, if you’re curious, if you’re ready, if you’re looking for guidance on what might help and how to do it safely and SO empowered—there’s more to learn.
Inside Your Body, Your Birth, we break it down. The evidence, the options, the ways to prepare your body for birth. Because waiting is hard. But knowing what’s happening inside your body—that changes everything.
Final Thoughts On Sex & Nipple Stimulation To Start Labor…
The last weeks of pregnancy come with a mix of excitement and uncertainty. You’re ready, you’re waiting, and you’re wondering what—if anything—might help move things along.
Sex and labor induction go hand in hand in many conversations, with nipple stimulation also being a commonly suggested natural method. While neither is a guaranteed way to start labor, they do play a role in how your body prepares for birth.
At the end of the day, labor is a process that unfolds in its own time. Whether you decide to try these methods or simply let your body do its thing, trust that your baby will come when they’re ready.
Now let’s talk about it…do you feel that either of these methods helped you go into labor? Let me know in the comments, I would love to hear from you!
xx, Lo
Looking for some other ways to get labor started? Here’s some other posts you’ll probably like:
- Eating Dates Might Help Your Labor: Here’s Why
- Midwives Brew: Should You Try This Natural Induction Method
- What is a Membrane Sweep and Should You Try One?
- The Miles Circuit: Can It Induce Labor?
- What Actually Makes Labor Start?
More resources (and freebies!) for you to take a peek at:
- Comprehensive Birth Plan and Birth Priorities templates
- A complete Third Trimester Checklist
- The RN + mama of 4 Ultimate Packing List
- The Labor Mama online birth, baby and breastfeeding classes for every family


