He gives the lowdown on some of the most common methods. Nipple stimulation is a natural way to increase oxytocin levels. Oxytocin kicks childbirth into gear by sending signals that tell your body to start contractions and labor. Emery says that nipple stimulation is the only method with data to back it up. Acupuncturists insert tiny needles into specific locations on the body to kick-start labor. Acupressure follows the same principles — but swaps the needles for firm pressure and massage. File these two under: Feel free to try, but keep your expectations low.
But what about the methods your Aunt Linda, best friend or even doctor swears by? He also cautions against women taking illicit substances. While they may cause pre-term labor, they are incredibly dangerous for both mom and baby. Not everyone should try to give Mother Nature a nudge. So despite the nagging backaches, sleepless nights, and countless bathroom trips, moms-to-be are advised to wait until after 39 weeks pregnant before considering any induction methods including pharmacological unless an induction is medically indicated.
Even then, you should know the pros and cons of each method and discuss them with your healthcare provider. Here's a look at the natural ways to induce labor at home. Prolonged breast stimulation prompts the pituitary gland to release contraction-inducing oxytocin, the same powerful hormone that initiates your milk let-down response and can lead to severe cramps when a newborn suckles. Its synthetic form, Pitocin, is the most common drug used to induce labor, and studies indicate that stimulating it naturally can be effective as well.
A Cochrane Database review that included women at 37 weeks pregnant or beyond found that nearly 40 percent of those who stimulated their nipples for one to three hours daily had their babies within three days, while only 6 percent of the control group gave birth. But aside from the impracticalities who has time to do this for hours on end?
You also have to make sure the baby is tolerating it well by having your health care provider monitor his or her heartbeat. Although research results are mixed, anecdotes abound about late babies making an entrance soon after a love-making session. Semen contains cervix-softening fats called prostaglandins also used in medical induction and a woman's orgasm can lead to strong uterine contractions.
One study of healthy women found that those who had sex after 36 weeks pregnant were significantly less likely to go past their due date or require labor induction. But another study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found no difference between sexually active and abstinent moms when it came to length of gestation.
Midwives have long recommended inducing labor naturally by drinking castor oil 2 ounces in a glass of orange juice or mixed with ice cream. The idea is that castor oil can stimulate the smooth muscle of the bowels, promote the release of prostaglandin, and nudge the nearby uterus into action. Research results are varied, but two recent trials showed that full-term pregnant people who were given castor oil were more likely to go into labor within 24 hours.
But the side effects—including nausea, explosive diarrhea, and dehydration— can be grueling, Myers says. A safer bet for those past 39 weeks? Load up on spicy food, which could have similar results without the nasty side effects but be prepared for heartburn and puffy ankles, because spicy food taxes your digestive system.
Midwives most commonly suggest evening primrose oil and blue cohosh as natural ways to induce labor. And if you can walk up a steep hill, even better!
This causes you to lean forward at an angle, helping baby move in the right direction. Walking stairs and doing squats have also been said to be very helpful. So go ahead and get that heart pumping! However, there is no evidence to support this.
Spicier foods tend to work the best out of them all since it stimulates your colon. Those cramps in your intestines can spread to your uterus, which then can cause you to have contractions and go into labor. Regularly drinking raspberry leaf tea can strengthen and tone your uterus and help those muscles in your uterus start to contract.
You can get raspberry leaf tea at pretty much any grocery store or on Amazon here. You can prepare it hot or make it iced so you can enjoy it year-round. Bottoms up! Getting a labor induction massage is a great way to get contractions going. Women will question if this massage will help them go into labor within 24 hours, but I tell them it should happen within 48 hours. If nothing happens, they should come back for another massage. This massage allows you to relax your muscles around baby, and it sends signals to your body to start the labor process.
I highly recommend it. NOTE: Make sure your massage therapist is knowledgeable about giving labor induction massages. Soaking in a warm bath may help to get labor going. How so? Soaking in the tub helps relax you. There is evidence showing that stress and being uptight may keep you from going into labor. This is why massages and baths are also beneficial. Are you looking for an oil to induce labor? Evening primrose oil EPO might be the thing for you since it can be used to help soften the cervix.
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