Your due date is almost here. Yay! You must be so excited to meet your little one. You may be ready to not be pregnant any more and you’re Googling how to get this baby out! Maybe curb walking has come up and you’re wondering what is curb walking? We’re going to go over what this is, what it does, and when it could help. As always, we strongly encourage you to speak with

What is curb walking? What does it do?

Don’t think too much about it – curb walking is exactly what it sounds like. It is when you walk (half) on the curb. This can encourage your baby to move farther down in the pelvis. When baby moves farther down, they can better apply pressure to the cervix. The pressure can help the body release oxytocin, triggering contractions or helping to keep contractions going.

We realize that not everyone lives in an area where there are safe curbs for them to walk. However, there are variations that can also be effective, including:

• putting on one high heel shoe and one flat shoe and walk inside
• walk up and down the stairs

Both of these variations facilitate the same rocking motion of the pelvis. It is important to remember that, towards the end of pregnancy, your balance may be slightly off. For this reason we recommend going with someone (if you leave the house to curb walk) and using a handrail when possible.

When can it help?

As with any induction method, curb walking won’t work if your body is not ready to go into labor. If you are preterm or at risk for preterm labor, we do not recommend trying anything to induce labor. Always speak with your OB or midwife, as they know you and your baby best.

Ideally curb walking, or a variation thereof, can help when you’ve already begun dilating and effacing and your body needs a little push to get things moving. If contractions have already begun, you may find that this may help them to become more regular. We do not recommend walking to the point of exhaustion. Labor is a marathon and there is not telling how long you will need to maintain your energy.

This blog is for informational purposes only. It does not take the place of consultation with your healthcare professional.

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