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Natural
Labor Induction Methods
by Jessica Hudson
Labor
Inducing Eggplant Parmesan
One
of the methods of self-inducing labor that's been sweeping the
internet in recent years is the myth that eggplant will start
labor. This maternity myth started when a news story began circulating
about a restaurant in Georgia named Scalini's. Apparently the
mothers of over 300 babies have gone into labor in the past 23
years, within 48 hours of eating the eggplant parmegiana.
The
funny part is, it may just be that the dish causes the women to
go into labor, but it's not the eggplant. The herbs Oregano and
Basil have properties that may cause contractions, though it is
not yet known how or in what quantities. This is why, in aromatherapy
circles, these herbs and essential oils are to be avoided whenever
possible during pregnancy.
Sex
to Induce Labor
Semen
contains prostaglandins. Prostaglandins cause the cervix to "ripen",
or soften and prepare to open. While it is debatable whether there
are enough prostaglandins in semen to have any real effect, it
is not a terrible way to keep hope alive and while away the last
weeks of your pregnancy. Another great side effect is the fact
that orgasms produce oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions.
So, between the two, there is a pretty good case for the cure
for pregnancy.
Evening
Primrose Oil and Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Neither
will actually induce labor. While some lay midwives will argue
that statement about the Evening Primrose, which is the reason
it is not recommended until 36 weeks or "full term",
almost all sources with experience agree that it does nothing
that the body was not ready to do on its own. I will repeat this
at the end of this section, to make sure you understand this,
as there is a lot of confusion and misconception surrounding these
two substances.
Evening
primrose oil is an excellent source of prostaglandins, which we
already determined readies your cervix for labor. It can be taken
orally as soon as 34 weeks, and can be applied directly to the
cervix at full term (36 weeks). The general recommendation is
two 500mg
capsules per day until week 38, at which time you increase to
3-4 per day. The entire capsule can be inserted vaginally (inserted
just before bed, it will dissolve before the first time you wake
to use the bathroom), or you can use the oil on your fingers for
your perineal massage, then also rub on your cervix (assuming
you can reach it). Applying directly to the cervix is optimal,
but the beneficial ingredients are absorbed through the external
skin or the stomach also.
Red
raspberry leaf tea is a uterine tonic used by Native Americans
for thousands of years. It tones your uterus by helping to "focus"
your Braxton Hicks contractions. Think of its job as helping your
uterus do more effective exercising while you are pregnant. It
does not "cause" contractions and can be safely used
throughout pregnancy. It is contraindicated for those having complications
"just in case", however, by most doctors who do not
understand its use. Many women safely use it from the moment they
learn they are pregnant at six weeks until months after delivery.
(It helps to tone the uterus after delivery as well, shrinking
it back to size more quickly and reducing bleeding.)
Again,
neither of these actually causes labor to start!
Castor
Oil to Bring on Labor
First
let me just say that I do not recommend this method. That is because
I used it with my second child and it was just about the most
horrible mistake I could have made (other than maybe getting another
epidural, anyway).
The
theory behind this induction method is that the castor oil causes
diarrhea and the diarrheal cramps cause sympathetic cramping in
your uterus, another smooth muscle. This is another of the methods
that "won't work if you're not already ready anyway",
as the sympathetic cramping will be ineffectual if all conditions
are not already optimal for labor. In my case, my contractions
began 10 minutes after my first dose of oil, hours before the
diarrhea began. Therefore, it could not have been the castor oil
that brought on labor in my case, and I caused myself all that
trouble for nothing.
There
has been much debate over whether taking castor oil to induce
labor will cause the baby to have its first bowel movement in
the womb before birth. This pre-birth bowel movement, called meconium,
can be dangerous, because if baby inhales some of it it can cause
pneumonia in the lungs. Meconium is also a widely-held signal
that the baby is in some sort of distress. Most professionals
with any experience with castor oil inductions agree that this
is untrue. They have found that there is no increased occurrence
of meconium in castor oil induced labors over spontaneous labors.
The
real danger lies in the mother when using castor oil for labor
induction. With the severity of the diarrhea, a laboring woman
can quickly become dehydrated. Especially in a typically highly
managed hospital birth where a woman is allowed few fluids. Dehydration
makes one tired and less able to endure through physical activity.
Plus, not only does this endanger breastfeeding (proper hydration
is necessary to make adequate milk), but a dehydrated uterus is
an aggravated uterus, and an aggravated uterus causes more pain
for the mother. More pain makes a woman less able to handle natural
child birth and puts her and the baby at increased risk for a
snowball of interventions.
Nipple
Stimulation to Self-induce
This
is a practice often recommended by midwives when a woman is long
past due or when labor is stalled. Nipple stimulation causes the
release of oxytocin, the same hormone that causes uterine contractions.
Many women report, however, that the contractions produced from
this method are much stronger and more painful than natural labor,
but are not any more effective. Please note: In order to use this
method for induction, you must stimulate the nipples for long
periods of time. The usual recommendation is 15 minutes of continual
stimulation on each nipple each hour for several hours. So, the
amount of stimulation you may experience during intimacy, while
nursing an older child, or while pumping your breasts while pregnant
will not cause you to go into labor. The general recommendation
on these activities is to abstain from them when your condition
warrants doctor recommended pelvic rest. Please check with your
practitioner before trying this.
Acupressure/Acupuncture
for Inducing or Augmenting Labor
There
are two points on your body that will cause uterine contractions.
They are always warned against during pregnancy, though they are
widely believed to be another labor inducing method that will
not work if you are not already ready to deliver. These points
are about four finger-widths above the inner ankle on your calf,
and in the webbing between your thumb and forefinger. You will
know when you've found the spot because it will be very sore.
You rub your calf, or pinch the webbing on your hand, in a circular
motion for 30-60 second at a time, taking 1-2 minute breaks in
between.
Stripping
Membranes
There
is a procedure your doctor or midwife can perform called "stripping"
or "sweeping" your membranes. The healthcare professional
will insert their finger(s) into your cervix and sweep
from side to side, pulling the membranes (bag of water) away from
the mouth of the cervix and the lower uterus, and in the process
stretching and irritating your cervix. Sometimes this will generate
local production of prostaglandins and enough of the necessary
hormones to start labor. Sometimes it takes 3 or 4 attempts to
begin labor. Many women find this to be a very uncomfortable,
if not painful, procedure. This is a medical intervention and
should be taken as seriously as any medical induction method.
Herbs
and Homeopathic Remedies
All
substances that would fall in this category, such as Blue and
Black Cohosh are general considered to be as unsafe as medical
interventions, and if they are to be used must be used only under
the recommendation and supervision of your doctor or midwife.
Jessica Hudson is owner of Eva Lillian Maternity & Nursing
Boutique. She is not medically trained and is not recommending any
of the above. She has compiled this information from many different
authoritative sources, and provides the above for informational
purposes only. To read more such articles, please visit
http://www.evalillian.com/articles.html
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