How to Induce Labor

As you enter the last weeks of pregnancy and your due date approaches, you are probably ready for the baby to get here! You're tired of people asking you when the baby is going to arrive and you're getting pretty impatient, uncomfortable or tired. You've probably heard of people just choosing a date & being induced but if you're like me, you're desiring not to be medically induced for various reasons. Luckily, there are some natural methods you can try out first.

First off, you should NOT try to induce yourself. This is something you should discuss with your midwife or doctor first. You should also not try to start labor until you are at least 40 weeks pregnant, overdue and/or your doctor or midwife has given their approval. Your due date can be off by a few weeks and you DO NOT want to go into labor if your baby isn't prepared to live outside the womb! Natural induction methods are worth a shot first because they'll only work if your body is truly ready for labor. It's always good to proceed slowly when using any of the methods, too. You don't want to hyperstimulate the uterus - that will only make it more difficult for you during labor because it won't get enough rest between contractions. So don't try them all once! Try making a list of some to take with you to your next doctor appointment and discuss them then. Here are some of the most common natural induction methods and a little bit more about them:

WALKING: Walking has long been regarded as a good way to get labor going. Movement and gravity allow the baby to be brought down further into the pelvis to get into position for birth. Walking often helps when you've actually gone into labor, as well.

SEX & NIPPLE STIMULATION: This might be the furthest thing from your mind at the moment but a man's semen contains prostaglandins which help to ripen the cervix. Also, when a woman has an orgasm or has her nipples stimulated she produces oxytocin, the labor hormone - that's definitely more enjoyable than receiving Pitocin in the hospital!

HERBS/OILS/HOMEOPATHIC: This category definitely needs to be discussed with your midwife or doctor - you should never take any types of medication or herbal supplements without their ok. Here are some different kinds of things you can ask them about, though:

- Raspberry Leaf: Essentially raspberry leaf helps to tone your uterus which can result in you having an easier labor and/or help with breastmilk production. I bought a nice red raspberry leaf tea from our local grocery store and I think it's delicious. I don't know if it's helped or not but it's definitely worth trying.

- Black/Blue Cohosh: It's an herb used to encourage contractions and/or start labor. Blue cohosh is believed to make contractions stronger, while black is thought to regulate contractions. It is better taken during early labor and should of course, only be taken with the approval of your practitioner.

- Castor Oil: There are a lot of conflicting opinions on using castor oil for induction. It's believed to work by causing spasms in the intestines, which are surrounding the uterus at the end of pregnancy. This then can cause the uterus to cramp and you to go into labor. Castor oil causes diarrhea and can be quite an unpleasant or messy method. Also, the mother will need to keep close watch so that she doesn't get dehydrated from all the trips to the bathroom. For mothers who have been experiencing bad constipation or if labor has stalled, this method can be pretty effective. Castor oil can be taken with orange juice to minimize the oily flavor. Talk about the benefits and risks with your practitioner to decide if it's right for you.

- Evening Primrose Oil: This is another method to help ripen the cervix. Evening Primrose Oil comes from a plant and imitates prostaglandins. It comes in caplet form and can be taken orally or internally. If you are taking it internally, you may want to insert it at night before bed and wear a pad as it can be pretty messy when getting back up.

- Others: There are various other methods that can be found online or that your practitioner might know of and they're definitely worth discussing.

MASSAGE/ACUPRESSURE/ACUPUNCTURE: Seeing a massage therapist or acupuncturist who will work on certain points on your body that are generally avoided during pregnancy may help to encourage or trigger labor. These methods help to relax you, calm your body and ease tension - which is always good for labor! Ask your practitioner if they think it's a good idea and if they can recommend someone to you.

STRIPPING/SWEEPING OF THE MEMBRANES: This is a procedure your doctor/midwife can do in their office. It involves your practitioner gently separating the membranes from from the cervix during an internal exam. It's believed to release prostaglandins which will encourage and/or possibly start labor. Some spotting, bleeding or cramping may occur afterward and you might need to rest for awhile. Some women find this method to be very uncomfortable, or even painful while others it didn't bother at all.

Some practitioners believe this procedure will cause you to go into labor the very day you have it done but really it varies. I had this procedure done when I was pregnant with my son and I went into labor within a few days. Some women have it done multiple times and it does nothing. I'm considering having it done again, since there really aren't any risks of complications.

FOOD: Many different kinds of food have been said to bring about labor, but none really have been proven. Some may help to relax you, tone the uterus or irritate the bowels, as with castor oil. My advice? Go ahead & try them if you like them. If not, don't mess with it. I already mentioned the raspberry tea. Some people swear by spicy foods but all I've found is that if you get heartburn, that's not a great idea! I had some spicy Mexican food the other day and really regretted it afterwards - TERRIBLE heartburn all evening long! So of course, use your own judgment. Foods that have been mentioned before by various doctors, midwives and mothers are: spicy foods like peppers or Mexican cuisine; tropical fruit like pineapple, mango and kiwi; Chinese food, Eggplant Parmesan, and/or licorice.

Above all, remember that your baby is going to arrive when it's good and ready! Sometimes no matter what you do, the baby and/or your body is just not prepared enough yet. So use your extra time to do those last minute baby projects or to rest up as much as possible! :)

Sources: http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/natural-ways-to-induce-labor.html, http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/foods-that-induce-labor-736.html, http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5329,00.html