Psyllium is a form of fiber made from the Plantago ovata plant, specifically from the husks of the plantâs seed.It sometimes goes by the name ispaghula. Itâs most commonly known as a laxative. Psyllium provides more benefits to your body than decreasing the amount of time you spend in the bathroom.umerous studies have shown that fiber like psyllium, as part of a healthy diet, can help lower a personâs risk of heart disease. Psyllium can affect your heart by lowering blood pressure, improving lipid levels, and strengthening heart muscle.
Castor Oil. While it's not exactly a food, pregnant women have ingested castor oil to induce labor for centuries. The oil is extracted from the bean of the castor plant. Research studying the efficacy of castor oil as a labor inducer is inconclusive; though some women swear it helped stimulate their contractions.
Keep in mind that your health care provider might also use a combination of these methods to induce labor. How long it takes for labor to start depends on how your body responds to the induction techniques. If your cervix needs time to ripen, it might take two days before labor begins. If you simply need a little push, you might be holding your baby in your arms in a matter of hours. Contractions might become stronger and more painful earlier in induced labor than they would in a naturally occurring labor.