Natural Labor Prep: Simple Ways to Ready Your Body for Birth
As you approach your baby’s birth day, there’s one small part of your body doing some seriously big work: your cervix. In today’s episode, we’re diving into what cervical ripening really means, why it matters, and how you can support the process naturally—without fear or pressure. No matter where you are in your pregnancy, this conversation will give you encouragement, practical tips, and faith-filled peace about your body and this season of waiting.
💡 Disclaimer: The information in this episode and post is for general education and encouragement only. Always check with your provider before trying anything new. A helpful way to ask is:
“Is there any medical reason why I shouldn’t try ___?”
🎧 Listen to the Episode
Click below to listen to Episode 3
What Is the Cervix—and Why Does It Ripen?
Your cervix is the narrow opening at the bottom of your uterus that connects to the vagina. During pregnancy, it remains firm and closed to keep baby safe and secure. But as labor approaches, the cervix begins to ripen—it softens, thins, opens, and shifts forward to prepare for birth.
If you’re a visual learner, think of the neck of a balloon. As the balloon fills, pressure stretches the neck until it thins and opens—just like what your cervix does to help bring your baby into the world.
The Benefits of Cervical Ripening
Supporting your body’s natural cervical ripening process may:
Help you have a shorter, smoother labor
Reduce the need for interventions like Pitocin or cesarean birth
Improve the chances of a successful induction
Promote baby’s well-being by reducing stress during labor
💡 Want an easy guide to these methods?
👉 Download my Cervical Ripening Methods Handout inside the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library — it’s all laid out in detail for you!
🧠 What Is the Bishop Score? (And Why It Matters)
Ever heard your provider say your cervix is “favorable” or “not quite ready”? They’re likely using something called the Bishop Score—a system that helps determine how ready your body is for labor or induction.
The 5 Components of the Bishop Score
1. Dilation (How open the cervix is):
0 cm = 0 points
1–2 cm = 1 point
3–4 cm = 2 points
5+ cm = 3 points
2. Effacement (How thin the cervix is):
0–30% = 0 points
40–50% = 1 point
60–70% = 2 points
80% or more = 3 points
3. Station (How low baby’s head is in the pelvis):
-3 station = 0 points
-2 station = 1 point
-1 or 0 station = 2 points
+1 or +2 station = 3 points
4. Cervical Consistency (How firm or soft the cervix feels):
Firm = 0 points
Medium = 1 point
Soft = 2 points
🖐 Analogy:
• Tip of your nose = firm
• Your chin = medium
• Upper lip = soft
5. Cervical Position (Where the cervix is tilted):
Posterior (tilted back) = 0 points
Mid-position = 1 point
Anterior (tilted forward) = 2 points
What Your Total Score Means:
0–5 points: Cervix is not yet favorable—cervical ripening methods may help
6–7 points: Moderately favorable—your body is progressing
8+ points: Very favorable—labor may begin on its own or respond well to induction
🌿 Gentle Ways to Encourage Cervical Ripening
Here’s a brief review of common methods. The full guide is available inside the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library.
🕓 Starting at 20 Weeks
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea – Tones uterus, strengthens contractions
🕓 Starting at 36 Weeks
Chiropractic Adjustments – Aligns pelvis, supports baby’s position
🕓 Starting at 37 Weeks
Eat Dates – Supports spontaneous labor
Evening Primrose Oil – Taken orally to support softening
Sex – Releases prostaglandins and oxytocin
Breast/Nipple Stimulation – Encourages oxytocin release
🕓 Starting at 39 Weeks
Membrane Sweep – A medical technique performed by your provider
Acupuncture – Gentle stimulation of labor through traditional practice
📥 Want an easy guide to all these methods?
Download the full Cervical Ripening Methods Handout inside the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library
💛 Scripture for Your Heart
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)
Let this verse anchor you. Whether you’re waiting or actively preparing, trust that God’s timing is perfect—and His will is soverign.
🙏 A Prayer for You
Dear Lord,
I lift up this beautiful mama who is preparing her heart and her body for the birth of her baby. Help her release control and rest in Your perfect plan. Quiet the voice of fear and performance, and replace it with the peace that surpasses understanding. Guide her in wisdom as she explores her options, and bless her with confidence in her body’s design. In Jesus’ name, amen. 💛
📎 Resources Mentioned
Cervical Ripening Methods – (FREE handout inside the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library)
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea I used from Amazon
Jacksonville Area Chiropractor & Acupuncture Recommendations Here
Virtual Doula Support & Childbirth Education – Explore Services
📣 Let’s Stay Connected
If this episode encouraged you:
Hit subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Text a friend and share the show with a fellow mama.
Grab your free birth prep tools at the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library.
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📄 Full Episode Transcript
Well, hello there. I am so excited to welcome you to episode three. Today I'm going to be talking about natural ways to help ripen your cervix. Maybe you've heard of cervical ripening methods, or maybe you are completely unfamiliar with this concept. But let's dive into what the cervix is, and then we can talk about ways to help ripen the cervix and why we might want to do this.
The cervix is the lower, narrow part of your uterus or womb, and it connects to the vagina. It acts like a gatekeeper between the uterus and the birth canal. During your pregnancy, the cervix is firm, closed, and long, which keeps your baby safely inside throughout the pregnancy until it's time for labor.
As labor approaches, the cervix begins to ripen. It will start to soften, thin out (efface), open up (dilate), and move positionally from the back to the front of your body. This leads to the birth of your baby.
A helpful analogy: think about the neck of a balloon. When the balloon gets really full, the neck is tight and closed to keep everything inside. But as pressure builds, the neck (or cervix) starts to open, stretch, and thin. It's a nice way to visualize what the cervix is doing.
Maybe you've heard of cervical ripening methods, maybe you haven't. Either way, let's touch on some of the benefits. These include having a shorter or smoother labor (and who doesn't want that?), reducing the risk of unnecessary interventions like Pitocin or unplanned cesarean birth, and increasing the chance of a successful vaginal delivery during an induction. A shorter, smoother labor also helps with baby's wellbeing because they are less stressed, and it may even lessen labor intensity for you.
Quick disclaimer: the information I share is for general education and encouragement. Always talk with your provider before trying anything new. A helpful way to ask is, "Is there any medical reason why I can't try [method] like red raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy?" Some providers are unfamiliar with these methods, and you don’t want to put them on the spot. But if they know you have gestational diabetes, for example, they may advise you to avoid dates, which is one of the methods.
One way providers assess if your cervix is favorable for labor is by using something called the Bishop Score. It sounds clinical, but it's straightforward. Here are the five components:
Dilation (how open the cervix is)
0 cm = 0 points
1–2 cm = 1 point
3–4 cm = 2 points
5+ cm = 3 points
Effacement (how thin the cervix is)
0–30% = 0 points
40–50% = 1 point
60–70% = 2 points
80%+ = 3 points
Station (how low baby is in the pelvis)
−3 = 0 points
−2 = 1 point
−1 or 0 = 2 points
+1 or +2 = 3 points
Cervical Consistency (how soft the cervix feels)
Firm (like the tip of your nose) = 0 points
Medium (like your chin) = 1 point
Soft (like your upper lip) = 2 points
Cervical Position (where the cervix is located)
Posterior = 0 points
Mid-position = 1 point
Anterior = 2 points
Scores:
0–5: not favorable, cervical ripening methods may help
6–7: moderately favorable
8+: very favorable, higher chance labor will begin on its own or induction will go smoothly
Now that you have a sense of cervical ripeness and how it’s scored, let's talk about natural and gentle ways to support it.
Starting at 20 weeks, red raspberry leaf tea can help tone the uterus. By the end of pregnancy, your uterus becomes the biggest and strongest muscle in your body. A toned uterus contracts more effectively, potentially shortening labor. Start with 1–3 cups per day. At 37 weeks, steep up to 4 tea bags overnight in 20–32 oz of water. I like to keep mine in a mason jar in the fridge. You can find this tea at most stores, or grab the 100-count organic version I use on Amazon (linked in the show notes).
At 36 weeks, I recommend chiropractic adjustments. Ideally, start earlier, but here's a general schedule:
1st trimester: once a month
2nd trimester: twice a month
3rd trimester: once a week, then twice a week during the last 6 weeks If baby is breech or not in an optimal position, you may need more frequent visits. I share my chiropractor recs on the local resources page.
At 37 weeks, you can begin eating dates, taking evening primrose oil (1,000 mg twice a day), having sex (semen contains prostaglandins), doing breast/nipple stimulation (10 minutes/day), or trying colostrum expression.
At 39 weeks, talk to your provider about a membrane sweep if you're at least 1 cm dilated. I had a sweep before both of my labors and went into labor within 24 hours. Acupuncture is also a wonderful option—just make sure your provider is experienced in labor prep.
But remember: this is not about doing all the things expecting your cervix to become perfectly favorable or labor to go exactly as planned. It's about gently partnering with your body and creating the best chance for a smooth labor. If you're doing everything and your cervix is still closed at 41 weeks, don’t panic. Keep trusting. Keep praying. Let the Lord lead you in what to try and what to let go.
As Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." There’s a time to act and a time to wait. And you can trust God to be with you in both.
Before we close, I just want to invite you to download the Cervical Ripening Methods Cheat Sheet, available in the Christian Mama Birth Prep Library. Whether you’re early or late in pregnancy, this free guide is a great way to keep everything you need in one place.
Let’s close in prayer...
Dear Lord, I thank you for this sweet sister who is hearing my voice right now. I pray that You would wrap her in Your peace during this waiting time. Help her release control. Remove fear and replace it with faith. Guide her in the methods You want her to try—not what the world says or even what I say, but what You are whispering to her heart. We trust You completely, Lord. You are so powerful and good. Thank You for this pregnancy, this baby, and this sacred season. In Jesus’ name, amen.
That’s it for today’s episode. Next week, I’m interviewing Sarah Salain with Simply Sarah Healing. Her story of infertility, healing, and how God is now using her to support other women is so powerful. I can’t wait to share it with you. See you then!
