Due Dates, Gentle Nudges, and the Contentious Midwives’ Brew

As you near your due date — or as I like to call it, your “guess date” — you’re probably feeling excited to meet your precious baby and anxious to hold them in your arms. But if that date comes and goes without a single contraction, it’s easy for that eagerness to turn into discouragement, doubt, and often impatience.

Waiting for labor to start naturally can be hard, especially when well-meaning friends and family keep asking, “No baby yet?” This is where we often encourage moms to turn off their phones and allow their world to get small, with only safe, encouraging people around.

If you’ve started looking for ways to help things along, you may have come across Midwives’ Brew mentioned as a natural method for inducing labor. But does it work? Is it safe? And when is it appropriate to try?

As a certified nurse-midwife, I want all mamas to have the information they need to make informed decisions about their pregnancy and labor. So, let’s talk details on due dates, long pregnancies, and natural labor induction methods like Midwives’ Brew.

What Is Midwives’ Brew?

Midwives’ Brew is the “big guns” of the gentle nudges for jumpstarting labor — a last-resort option once you’ve exhausted other avenues. And it isn’t something to try on a whim. If you’re considering Midwives’ Brew, it’s important to make sure you and your midwife, doctor, or other provider are on the same page before taking it.

As far as ingredients, the traditional Midwives’ Brew recipe includes:

• 4 tablespoons castor oil
• 4 tablespoons nut butter
• 1 cup juice (apricot, pineapple, or orange)
• 1 cup champagne
• (Optional) 2 drops lemon verbena oil

Blend everything together and drink it all at once. This may be easier said than done, but many women find drinking through a straw helps!

How Does Midwives’ Brew Work?

The key ingredient in Midwives’ Brew is castor oil, which stimulates the gut. This irritation leads to the release of prostaglandins, which help soften and ripen the cervix, potentially triggering contractions. The nut butter in the recipe helps slow down absorption so the castor oil doesn’t hit too aggressively.

If it works, contractions usually begin within a few hours up to 24 hours after drinking. If your body isn’t ready, however, it may not work at all, which is why I don’t recommend taking Midwives’ Brew unless you’re at least 41 weeks along (unless there’s a clear medical reason). Ideally, your cervix would also already be somewhat dilated for it to be most effective.

In pregnancy care, a generous amount of data supports not going past 42 weeks because of increased risks for the baby. If you’re approaching that 42-week mark, Midwives’ Brew may be a gentler alternative to try before scheduling an in-hospital induction.

Risks of Midwives’ Brew

While Midwives’ Brew can be effective, it does come with some risks. The biggest concerns include:

• Vomiting and diarrhea: Castor oil is aggressive on the gut and can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and consequent dehydration.
• Fast, intense labor: Moms may experience stronger contractions and a more rapid labor process.
• Meconium in utero: The castor oil could cause your baby to pass its first bowel movement (the meconium) before birth, though this can happen even in full-term pregnancies where labor begins on its own. While very rare, aspirating meconium-stained fluid can lead to complications for baby.

These risks are why it’s crucial to talk to your midwife or doctor before taking this approach. Midwives’ Brew isn’t a casual remedy; it’s a powerful option that needs thoughtful consideration and preparation.

Due Dates, Guess Dates, and Going Over

Despite how definite they seem, due dates aren’t an exact science. But even if you know this in your head, your emotions may not cooperate if that date passes you by.

We always do our best to calculate due dates based on factors like your last period, conception, and ultrasounds, but the margin for error never goes away. This is why, at Haven, we prefer to call due dates “guess dates.” I actually joke with my clients that once we decide on a date, try to forget it! Instead, you can focus on the “due month” — the few weeks before and after your projected due date.

If you must give a date to family or friends, I often recommend sharing your 42-week date rather than your actual due date. This can reduce the number of “helpful” but potentially stressful comments and questions you get as your due date nears.

First-time moms, on average, give birth 7 to 10 days past their due date. So remember: If you go past your due date, you’re not “late” — you’re normal! Instead of fixating on a specific date, think of the part of the month in which you’re due. For instance, rather than thinking “I’m due on June 16,” you can think in terms of “late June.”

This simple mindset shift can make a huge difference in your emotional well-being during those final weeks. A lot of the battle is in your mind, keeping anxiety and frustration at bay. I promise, you won’t be pregnant forever!

Alternatives to Midwives’ Brew

Besides Midwives’ Brew, what else can you try to get labor going? Quite a few alternatives can help:

• Back to Basics: Eating well, staying hydrated, and caring for your body form the foundation of health for both pregnancy and labor.
• Lots of Sex (if cleared for intercourse): Semen contains high levels of prostaglandins, and orgasms release oxytocin, both of which help ready the body for labor and birth.
• NORA Tea: This mineral-rich tea made with nettle, oat straw, red raspberry leaf, and alfalfa supports uterine health and overall pregnancy wellness.
• Dates: Studies have shown that eating 6–7 dates per day in the last 4–5 weeks of pregnancy can reduce the need for induction, shorten labor duration, and strengthen membranes.
• Power Pumping: Using a double electric breast pump in cycles (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off for about six cycles, or two hours, though always talk with your provider!) can stimulate oxytocin release and contractions.
• Specialized Massage: Specialized work from a well-trained acupressurist, chiropractor, or massage therapist can encourage the body’s natural readiness for labor.
• Membrane Sweep: A procedure by a midwife or doctor involving the insertion of one or two fingers into the cervix to gently “sweep” in an effort to help start labor (the cervix must be dilated enough to provide space for the sweep).
• Foley Bulb: A cervical balloon inserted by a midwife or doctor coaxes further dilation (requires existing dilation of at least 1 cm).

The greatest ingredient I’ve seen in preparing your body for labor? Surrender. It’s releasing the illusion of control, allowing your body to rest and relax, which is often exactly what it needs to start the process of bringing your baby into this world. There’s something beautiful about learning to let go at the end of pregnancy — and it’s excellent preparation for parenthood!

Midwives’ Brew: A Powerful Option, but Not a First Choice

Midwives’ Brew can be a helpful tool for the right person at the right time, but it should always be used with careful consideration. If you’re nearing 42 weeks and looking for an alternative to a hospital induction, it’s a worthwhile method to discuss with your midwife or healthcare provider.

Labor isn’t something to force; it’s something to receive. Whether that’s with Midwives’ Brew, other natural induction methods, or simple patience, the goal is always a beautiful, safe, and healthy birth experience for both you and your baby!