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Natural Induction Methods
First, RELAX! Forget due dates. Due dates are simply an educated guess, did
you know only 4% of births happen on the "due date"? Your anxiety is
pumping adrenaline at high levels into your system and this could very well be
further delaying any progress or starting. Concentrate on the wonderful feeling
of the baby's movements inside you and how productive labor will be when it does
begin. I know this all sounds a bit repetitive...however, the more you struggle
to initiate labor the more your body becomes stressed and a body that is
stressed will not start labor simply as a built in natural defensive response to
perceived "danger". Even though you might not be in actual danger,
your stress levels tell the body that danger is imminent and this further delays
the natural release of oxytocin into your system. Go take a warm bath, eat a
favorite meal, drink plenty of fluids and let nature take its course. The best
things in life take their time.
In dealing with natural induction this list will start with the safest and
least interventionist and will explain each method and the pro’s and con’s
of each.
| Start with relaxation techniques, to get you relaxed then use some visual
imagery of labor beginning. The most important thing to do is to find a way to relieve
stress and related tension.
Tension works against labor. Relieve it, let everything go, and you may be
surprised to find yourself in labor. |
| A bumpy car ride may sound like an old wives tail, but if the baby is not
in a good position, your sitting and relaxing while being moved by the car
through bumps has worked. |
| Spicy food has been suggested, and if you are not prone to heartburn from
spices why not give it a try. One word of caution though, heartburn during
labour is not enjoyable! |
| Before proceeding further, this is only a list of suggestions. Please
consult with your doctor before trying any of these methods. |
Prostaglandin
The next step is prostaglandin. Prostaglandin is the hormone that softens the
cervix, preparing it for birth. It does not stimulate your uterus, thus is very
safe. Two ways to introduce prostaglandin are:
| Making love with your husband or partner once a day, don't get up right
away after and elevating your hips is a good idea. This let’s the
prostaglandin in your husbands (partners) semen coat your cervix that helps
to ripen it. Also semen orally has been said to help, as prostaglandins are
absorbed orally as well as vaginally. |
| Take Evening Primrose oil. It
doesn't START labor, only prepares the cervix. You buy it at just about any
health food/vitamin/herbal type store. It comes in capsules that look just
like vitamin E. You can also massage it onto your cervix as long as the bag of waters is
intact. If your water breaks and labour does not start soon, do not bath
(shower instead), avoid sex and anything that could introduce germs into
your vagina including vaginal checks. |
| Prostaglandin induction (using an artificial prostaglandin gel) is the
first step usually taken for induction in the hospital to soften the cervix,
making it more favourable for an induction with an artificial oxytocin drug. |
Oxytocin and Emenagogues
Oxytocin is the hormone that your body uses to stimulate uterine contractions
during labour. It is also the synthetic form of oxytocin that is used for
induction and augmentation in the hospital. You must use caution when using
these! After trying one, wait several hours to see if it has worked. If it is
used too much or too often labour may become too intense for you and baby. If
you experience any side effect, discontinue immediately!
| Nipple stimulation is a well-known method of contracting your uterus. Used
by midwives for centuries, it not only stimulates the uterus during labour,
it is very beneficial after the birth to aid in expelling the placenta and
thus avoiding hemorrhage. As this method uses your natural oxytocin, it is
the safest form of induction. |
| Accupressure on the Spleen 6. For more information on this, ask your Doula
or a good reference to this is The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin. |
| Blue or Black Cohosh are emenagogues. It is often seen as a last ditch
method, but if artificial induction is threatened this is a much more
natural form of induction. Don't use it if you are anemic or have a history
of postpartum bleeding, high blood pressure or excessive blood loss during
birth. Use only under the guidance of a qualified herbologist or naturopathy
and with the
acceptance of your primary caregiver. |
| Hey, go ahead and have that glass of wine you have been dying to have! At
this point it may relax you-hopefully enough to bring 'em on! |
Castor oil
One of the very possible side effects of using castor oil or an enema is the
mom having bad diarrhea with cramps that can lead to dehydration, which is why
my midwife suggests steering clear of it! I've also heard that it is believed to
be associated with a higher risk of the baby passing meconium before or during
the birth, but have seen no conclusive studies on this.
| Castor oil cocktail works by
stimulating the bowels, which in turn stimulates the uterus. Metamucil
works too and is much easier to take! |
| An enema also works the same as castor oil, and though invasive, it may be
the one to do the trick. |
Copyright © 1997 Connie Banack. All rights reserved. Used with permission by
Doula Notes.
Disclaimer: All information is provided for educational purposes only.
Consult your physician regarding the advisability of any opinions or
recommendations with respect to your individual situation.
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