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How to Induce Labor Naturally
Natural Ways to Induce Labor
Let's explore how to induce labor naturally using a variety of natural health techniques and therapies, including home remedies to induce labor.
More and more women want to learn natural ways to induce labor before having to go through a medically induced labor. Having to be medically induced can be quite painful, uncomfortable and may lead to more medical intervention during child delivery.
Acupressure to Induce Labor
Using pressure points to induce labor naturally can be very effective.
There is convincing clinical evidence that proves that acupressure will induce labor and many midwives, medical physicians have noticed that there is a correlation between uterine contractions and the stimulation of certain acupressure points. How does acupressure to induce labor work? Acupressure for labor induction works by applying firm pressure, or circular motion massage to certain acupressure points on the legs, hands, shoulders and back for a certain amount of time.
Maternity acupressure is what I would recommend for those who are serious about using acupressure to induce labor naturally and to learn ways to ease labor pains. Dr. Lena Leino has put together and amazing book and program that describes exactly how to use specific pressure points to induce labor. I promise, you will not regreat it!
Here you can learn more about acupressure for labor.
Sex to Induce Labor Naturally
Having sex is said to help bring on labor in women who are overdue. It is safe to have sex to induce labor as long as the membranes have not rupture yet. Many women do not feel comfortable about this because they may not feel like in the mood. But it is definitely a great way to try to relax, spend precious time alone with your partner (it will not be so easy when the baby comes). Sex, either oral or through intercourse seems to work because of prostaglandin present in the semen. Also female orgasm can help open the cervix of approximately a couple of centimetres. It is safe for baby and worth trying.
Massage to Induce Labor Naturally
Having a pregnant massage regularly during pregnancy is a great way to relax and release stress in your body and in your life. If you feel concerned, stressed and very tense about going into labor and being overdue, try a gentle, relaxing pregnant massage. Can massage therapy start labor? A relaxing massage either from a registered massage therapist or your partner helps you reduce high levels of stress hormone, adrenaline. In fact, stress can contribute to inhibit or decrease uterine contractions. Massage can help slow down adrenaline production and help you go into labor in a relaxed mode. Your labor will be easier and faster, too. Massage to induce labor is often used in conjunction with acupressure to relax your body and muscles, bring the baby down in the pelvic area and induce uterine contractions.
Nipple Stimulation
Nipple stimulation is often recommended by midwives as a natural way to induce labor. It can be quite intensive and does seem to bring a positive outcome in some cases. Nipple stimulation is done by rolling the nipples between the fingers for 2 minutes and resting for 3. This should be continued for at least 20 minutes. This type of method is said to work because the hormone oxytocin is release during breast stimulation. It is also a useful method to bring on stronger contractions because it is simulating the suckling of the newborn baby. In order to perform nipple stimulation to induce labor effectively is important to stimulate and pull on the entire aeola, which is the dark area around the nipple. If this is something you want to do, using a breast pump may help. This can be done for 10-15 minutes every 60-90 minutes for several hours. Stop once the contractions are established to 20-30 minutes apart.
Herbal Tea to Induce Labor Naturally
Using herbal tea to induce labor is common and many midwives will recommend a cup of tea of Blue cohosh the night before. This herb is oxytocic and stimulates uterine contractions helping bringing on labor. It works best if your are really overdue and your baby is in the right position and no obstacles prevent his descend into the birth canal. This remedy should only be taken under supervision as it can affect the baby's heart causing a stroke or heart attack in newborns.
There is no real protocol on how much to take and how often in order to induce labor. Native people used to chew on the root to bring on contractions.
I am concerned that women who took this herb and had a baby with heart problems might have taken too much.
A too aggressive schedule to induce contraction may also be the problem because this herbal remedy can give nicotinic toxicity.
Blue cohosh is also available in homeopathic form, which is highly diluted. In homeopathy it is called Caulophyllum.
Midwives have known the power of using herbs to support the natural process of birth. Learn more about herbs for chilbirth.
Castor Oil Labor Induction
Many practitioners do not recommend castor oil to induce labor because of its side effects. There is a lot of controversial information about the effectiveness of this type of natural way to induce labor.
Learn more on how to use castor oil to induce labor.
Homeopathy to Induce Labor Naturally
Homoeopathic remedies are very safe and widely used by homeopaths and midwives to induce labor. Homeopathic remedies are highly diluted and thus non-toxic and safe for both mother and child. The use of routine remedies like Pulsatilla 30C and Caulophyllum 30C in alternation every 15 minutes to induce labor is effective in most case, but I believe that the best remedy is the one selected based on the mental and emotional state of the woman. For example, I was overdue in all of my pregnancies.
With my first child I took Caulophyllum and nothing happened. I believe that that remedy was not indicated for my case. With my second child I had false labor every night between 2-4 am with mild to severe contraction that were mostly felt in the back. A dose of Kali carbonicum took care of the false labor contractions. The baby was most likely posterior. After the remedy, the baby turned to an anterior presentation. Just 48 hours before going into labor a dose of Metallum album did the trick. The selection of this remedy was based on my fear and anxiety to having to go through another medically induced labor. With my last child I was 10 days overdue and I became very clingy, I did not wanted to be left alone and I wanted to keep the window open in the middle of the cold Canadian winter. Only after my husband said to me: "this is very unusual, you are always so cold!" I took one dose of Pulsatilla. The next day my son was born. If you want to use homeopathy to induce labor, contact an experienced homeopathic practitioner for best results.
Hot Bath to Induce Labor Naturally
This is so effective in knowing if you are in labor. If you have mild contractions a hot bath will either strengthen them or calm them down. Also, the hot bath will help you relax. Floating in water helps the baby turn to a presentation favorable to labor. Sometimes women are overdue because the baby, even if head down is not in an anterior presentation.
Foods to Induce Labor Naturally
I do not believe that food can put women into labor but, this is just my experience. Pineapple is said to help ripen the cervix and get labor started. Spicy foods are said to trigger labor.
Exercise to Induce Labor Naturally
1. Singing or laughing is the best exercise of all to get into labor. Sit on your birthing ball and bounce up and down while watching a really funny movie on the comedy channel. Lough to your heart's content. This can help you relax and release mental stress.
2. Going up and down the stairs until you are out of breath can also help. The movement of the exercise activity cause the baby's head to press on the cervix and stimulate the release of oxytocin leading to labor contractions.
3. Exercises like yoga also encourage the baby to assume a better presentation for labor. Doing yoga is also very relaxing.
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"Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of Mother's Love."
-- Maureen Hawkins
Preparing for Labor Naturally
With strong emotional support during labor paired with the loving support of your medical team and your partner, you can give birth in a relaxed and peaceful way using Flower essence remedy. Childbirth can be one of the most magnificent and defining experiences of your life. Let the power of natural support your birthing process and you will have very healthy birth!
Learn more about Flower essences for birth support...
Making Childbirth A Positive Experience
Midwives throughout the centuries have known how to use herbs to support the healthy process of childbirth. Only a few generations ago, labor and delivery were viewed as a natural process and not a medical business. The wisdom of the past is still useful to modern women today. Whether you are giving birth at home or in a medical setting, herbs for childbirth can be of great benefit in supporting an easy and your natural labor experience.
Learn more about herbs for childbirth
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