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Jump Start Your Labor Cookies

Caution: These cookies, really can jump start your labor if spice is your trigger for labor to begin! My husband has always loved ginger cookies, so a week before my due date I decided to make these cookies (recipe by Gale Gand) for him as a thank you for putting up with my very pregnant, hormonal self. I made this in the morning and ate more than my fair share of both raw dough (yes, I know, shame on me) and baked cookies. I took a nap and when he came home from work, I went to the kitchen and grabbed the plate of cookies to present to him. Literally as I was walking toward him with the plate of cookies in my hand my water broke and we were off for the hospital. Since then I have passed this recipe onto a few friends and amazingly enough, it's started their labors too! Give these spicy ginger cookies a try and pack your bags.

2 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
8 T. butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. molasses
1/4 c. egg whites

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda and spices and set aside. Cream the butter and sugars together. Add the molasses to the creamed butter, then add the egg whites until combined. Addd the dry ingredients slowly. Once incorporated, roll dough into 1 inch balls and place onto baking tray. Bake 8-10 minutes. Once cool eat as many as you can possibly stomach, lay down for a nap and wait for labor to begin!

Read below to hear how it's worked for other moms. If it's worked for you, we'd love to hear about it! Send us an e-mail at shopmom@shoppingfortwo.com and tell us about it.

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I waited until my mom had arrived from Ohio (we live in California) to bake these cookies. She arrived on Saturday evening and my husband baked me a bunch of tiny cookies on Sunday. I ate 5 mini cookies during the day and 2 later in the evening (Oscar night).

At 3:30 am Monday my contractions started and I finished packing our toiletry kit instead of sleeping. I also tried to clip my toenails since it looked like I'd be missing my scheduled due-date pedicure. At 4:30 am I was sure my labor had started and I woke my husband. The contractions were 2 minutes apart. By 5 am we were at the hospital. By 7:42am my baby boy, Milo, was born. Thanks "Jump start your labor cookies"!

:-) True story.
Heather of Rookie Moms