Labor-Inducing Folklore Is Alive and Well

Folkloric beliefs about labor are still alive and well among women in the United States, a new survey published in the March 2002 issue of Birth has shown. Researchers surveyed 102 pregnant women about their awareness of 10 common folk beliefs on inducing labor, and whether or not they believed that any of the tips would work.

A large proportion of the women thought that labor could be induced by walking (64%) or having sex (46%). Approximately 33% thought that exercise could expedite labor, whereas only 5% thought that drinking certain types of herbal tea would do so.