It goes without saying that natural induction methods are preferable to medical ones. Failed medical induction is the number one cause for the increase rate of cesarean in this country, so why not give Mother Nature a little hand….
Here some ideas I have borrowed from experts, midwives, childbirth educators, doulas, and the ancient tradition of midwifery. You will find many similar articles on the web and aside from a few small differences most natural methods are very similar.
Relaxation techniques. Babies know when you are relaxed and sensed it is a good time to come. A mother who is frightened and stressed out may go passed her due date because her baby might decide that it is not yet safe to come out. One of the reason why many labors start at night is because mom is finally relaxed and baby gets excited about coming into this world. Use visual imagery like you can get from our Natural Induction recording . But if you are truly stressed out I know a good cry relieves tension, so get a real tearjerker movie and let it reap. Tears are sacred and I have heard of women going into labor after a good cry. The most important thing to do is to find a way to relieve tension. Tension works against labor. Relieve it, let everything go, and you may be surprised to find yourself in labor.
Visualization. Get quiet and relaxed, and imagine your uterus contracting as well as the process of labor. Hypnosis or self-hypnosis has been known to really do wonders with this one.
Sex is the most ancient and one of the best methods to inducing labor, the Prostaglandin in semen softens the cervix and your orgasm has the ability to open up the cervix. If penetration is difficult at least make yourself have an orgasm, it is relaxing and it bring love into the equation. I know some of my clients simply do not feel like having sex in the last month of their pregnancy, but it beats a cesarean and medical induction. It will not harm the baby, and if you can find a comfortable position female orgasm can open the cervix of 2cm. WOW . If you really are not in the mood try using his sperm by inserting it in your vagina as close to the cervix as you can.
Nipple stimulation also works wonders according to Maternity Nursing: Family, Newborn, and Women’s Health Care by Reeder, Martin and Koniak-Griffin uterine hyperstimulation may be avoided by following this protocol:
-roll nipples between thumb and forefingers for 2 minutes -rest for 3 minutes -repeat rolling/resting for 20 minutes* -increase rolling to 3 minutes and decrease resting to 2 minutes for 20 minutes if inadequate contractions occur after initial 20 minutes.
Using a breast pump- Using a breast pump may help start labor contractions for some full-term pregnant women or for those past their due dates.
The theory is that nipple stimulation from the breast pump increases the levels of the hormone oxytocin in the body. This, in turn, may relax the body and help start uterine contractions.
This method is only safe if you have a low-risk, healthy pregnancy, and have received your doctor’s approval. Nipple stimulation with a breast pump isn’t safe if you have a high-risk pregnancy or pregnancy complications.
Read on to learn more about this method for inducing labor, including safety concerns and steps for using this method.
While research on manual nipple stimulation to induce labor is promising, studies that specifically looked at using a breast pump to induce labor are more limited in scope.
In 1999, a study compared nipple stimulation with a breast pump to synthetic oxytocin for labor induction. The study observed 79 pregnant women. Of the women in the study, 49 were in the breast pump stimulation group, while 30 were administered oxytocin.
Labor started faster for those in the oxytocin group, but researchers found that first-time moms in the breast stimulation group had more natural deliveries than those in the oxytocin group. Women in the oxytocin group were more likely to require the use of vacuums or forceps for delivery.
More recently, one small 2018 study of 16 low-risk pregnant women found that nipple stimulation could be effective for increasing oxytocin levels in the body naturally. The study used a manual method of nipple stimulation, not stimulation with a breast pump.
The women in the study were all 38 to 40 weeks along in their pregnancies and were observed over three days in a hospital maternity ward. They massaged their nipples for 15 minutes at a time for a total of one hour per day.
Researchers found that the oxytocin levels in the women were highest on day three, meaning it may take multiple days for nipple stimulation to be effective.
Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm the effectiveness of nipple stimulation for labor induction.
Inducing labor through nipple simulation is generally considered safe if you have a low-risk, healthy pregnancy.
But it’s only safe to try at-home methods for labor inductions if you are at or past your due date.
Exercise- Walking, swinging in a swing and general exercise helps stimulate contractions and helps the baby slide down and engage.
A bumpy car ride may sound like an old wives tale, but if the baby is not in a good position, sitting and relaxing while being moved by the car through bumps can work.
Pineapple. I just found out about this one, and I love pineapple. If it doesn’t give you heartburn, eating lots of pineapple is reputed to begin labor and ripen the cervix. I assume it has to do with the enzyme found in Pineapple
Cumin Tea. This is used by midwives in Latino cultures. Traditionally, a raw cube of potato is added to the tea, it absorbs the bitterness of the cumin. You can add sugar to this one or honey.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea This tea it is used as a tonic to strengthen the uterine walls. The best way to make a good cup of tea is by the infusion method. Place one tea bag in a cup and add no more than 6 oz. of boiling water. Let steep for 3 minutes. Press the bag before removing to enhance the flavor.
Evening primrose oil. This oil is an excellent source of prostalgin which can help soften the cervix. You can either use internally, by placing a few capsules directly near the source or you can ingest it. As with all these methods please speak to your care provider before using any or all of these methods.
Acupuncture and acupressure have been by far the most successful natural induction methods I have seen. A strong foot massage especially concentrating on the following three points can do wonders. Once I teach this massage technique to the partners and they practice it nightly, labor starts within the week (after the 40th week of gestation.) Using this massage also helps get mom and partner together as they practice managing the contractions. The idea is to hold the acupressure spot one minute at the time as you help her breathe and rehearse surfing the contraction waves.
induction massage:
Hoku massage Hoku (Large intestine 6): located deep in the webbing between either hand’s thumb and forefinger; in between the 1st and 2nd metacarpal bones. Stimulation of this point has been know to begin labor, enhance contractions during labor and in non-pregnant females, bring on menstruation several days early. Also may relieve pain from migraine.
Chih-yin massage Chih-yin (Bladder 67): located approximately 1/10″ behind the lateral corner of the smallest toe’s nail of either foot. Stimulation of this point has been known to relieve labor pains and migraine discomfort.
San-yin-chiao (Spleen 6): placing your left hand on your right leg with your pinkie finger just above the interior ankle bone, the lateral tibia is located just under where your index finger lies. You may utilize both points simultaneously by placing a thumb on each point as shown. Additionally This is LIV 3
Tai-chong (English translation = Great Surge) is a point on the top of the foot in the webbing between the big toe and the second toe. This point it is often massaged to relieved constipation, or menstrual cramps but it does work well for induction .
Before a scheduled induction and if you need to get a bit more aggressive let’s say past your due date here are some herbs many midwives recommend
DO NOT take any of these herbs without first conferring with a midwife, physician, and an herbalist.
Blue Cohosh Be careful when it comes to Blue Cohosh, many of the midwives I have worked with use it regularly but I have read that at times there are some negative reactions to this herb. Blue Cohosh is very effective but I prefer to start with using the homeopathic remedy, which has no risks. For Blue Cohosh the homeopathic remedy is – Caulophyllum for Black Cohosh is Cimifuga racemosa. Please consult your care provider always before beginning any induction procedure.
Castor Oil This is truly the last resort, as it is very uncomfortable to take such a strong laxative and be in labor at the same time. Yet I have seen it work for many moms, so again consult your midwife and then try it.
For a pain and difficult labor some suggests Ginger root (should not be given within an hour of birth) and Ginseng which can increase a mom’s energy level . Arnica Montana is a great remedy also in this case which midwives and homeopathic doctors recommend for difficult labors during and after the birth. For pain, I suggest chanting and walking and changing the environment, go to another room, take a bath, take a walk, if you can walk outside or even in the hospital corridors. Teas or tinctures that can help are Motherwort or Skullcap. Some studies suggest St. John’s Wort known to help with back and uterine pain which can be used in conjunction with Skullcap for a complete effect.
If all else fail you can:
After 42 weeks, ask your midwife about the Placement of Balloon Dilators. Your care provider will place a balloon inside your cervix and fill it with water. [The pressure from the balloon will imitate the pressure of the baby’s head and hopefully your cervix will respond by ripening and dilating. Balloon devices provide mechanical pressure directly on the cervix as the balloon is filled.] A Foley catheter (26 Fr) or specifically designed balloon devices can be used. The main advantages of using hygroscopic dilators include outpatient placement and no FHR-monitoring requirements*
I strongly recommend you do not take any of these without speaking to a midwife, herbalist, your doula and your primary care provider. As you demand that all procedures are explained to you so should you tell your provider of what you are taking and doing to stimulate labor. many traditional doctors will either tell you that it will not work, that it is an urban legend and some are strongly against castor oil or blue and black Cohosh. So it is your job to get informed and stay away from scare tactics.
I know you can have a wonderful birth and remember your child is also part of the equation some children just don’t feel like coming out the way we want them to.
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