How Can Labor Be Induced?

Being over due after a long 9 months of pregnancy is no fun for anyone involved! Family members are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the baby and mother is feeling tired and extremely uncomfortable. While only the baby can decide the perfect time to come naturally, there are a few methods of inducing labor at home as well as at the hospital. Read on for some ways to try to get labor started and be on the way to getting that baby out! I'll cover methods you can try at home and some basic medical procedures your doctor may offer to jump start your labor.

If you are bored at home and ready to have the baby, you can try several at home remedies to begin contractions. These methods are not scientifically proven to work, but time and experience has shown some great results in getting labor started. They are all simple things you can do at home at your leisure.

One great activity that may start contractions or help to dilate and efface your cervix is to take a speedy walk. The force of gravity will help the baby to settle deep into the pelvis and place a greater amount of pressure on the cervix. If nothing else, a walk will pass the time and help you to feel refreshed and have burned some extra calories at the same time. After the walk, settle for a nice bowl of cereal and see if the contractions will start!

A bath can help relax your body and allow the uterus to start contractions. By being completely relaxed your body is able to respond to cues with ease. The stress that builds up at the end of a pregnancy can take a toll on your body, and just taking a simple bath can leave you feeling stress-free, even if only for a moment!

Any low intensity exercise is a great practice to follow at the end of your pregnancy. Pilates for pregnancy, yoga for pregnancy and even special aerobic videos have all been made available to the stores for your purchase. These exercises can prepare your body for delivery, and may even spark the beginning of labor.

Spicy foods are another home-remedy for inducing labor. The spices interact in your blood stream and may trigger contraction producing hormones to be released. If nothing else, you can use this as a great excuse to enjoy one last dinner out before the baby arrives!

You can also try nipple stimulation by using a breast pump for a short amount of time. This causes the release of oxytocin into your bloodstream which is the hormone responsible for producing contractions. If nothing else, you will figure out how to assemble and use your breast pump, which you may need shortly after you give birth to you baby.

One last attempt to bring on labor can be sexual intercourse. The hormones released may trigger contractions and thin the cervix as well. It is safe to have sexual intercourse up to the day of delivery unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

The most common medical method of inducing labor is a pitocin drip IV line. The pitocin will trigger contractions very quickly and bring on strong contractions almost immediately. A pitocin induced labor can be very strenuous on the mother and should only be done if necessary.

Some doctors may offer to break a women's water in hopes of triggering labor. By breaking the amniotic sac, the baby will lie directly on the cervix and the increase of pressure may help to dilate the cervix and signal the start of labor. Doctors will often do this if the woman is already dilating and close to the onset of labor. If the baby is not delivered within 24 hours of the water breaking, the doctor will use pitocin to begin contractions and do a cesarean section if necessary.

It is always best to wait for the natural onset of labor. As the 9th month progresses and your due date comes and goes, it is hard to be patient. Just remember that the baby must be born and cannot stay inside forever!