Natural Labor Induction

‘Tis the season that we see pregnant women in the office asking for ways to naturally induce labor.Around the holidays it seems that pregnant women are put on the clock before they are even in labor.  Those who are due within a week of a holiday are typically given the option to induce labor as to avoid giving birth on the holiday itself.  In the past year, full-term pregnancies have been relabeled to 39 weeks instead of 37 weeks due to the highest (and at that point, still rising) c-section rates of all time.  Women were being electively induced as early as they could be (37 weeks), with the doctors leading the induction discussions.It is so tempting to have the opportunity to not give birth on an actual holiday.  Sharing a birthday on such a momentous day is challenging. It’s also inviting to have an exact end-date to the uncomfortableness that is pregnancy, but medically inducing pregnancy does not have to be your first choice.Being induced generally includes the use of the drug Pitocin, a synthetic oxytocin.  In 2012, a study was conducted by Australian and New Zealand Journal of Gynaecology that showed the use of Pitocin leads to “great pain and suffering, including serious unintended and adverse health effects to both mother and infant.”  The study witnessed:

• Increased use of regional analgesia (65 vs. 22% control group*)
• Increased use of instruments for delivery (21 to 18% control group*)
• Increased use of Cesarean section (29 to 14% control group*)

*control group did not receive oxytocinThe researchers concluded that synthetic oxytocin use increased "severe" maternal and neonatal morbidity and increased the doubled the risk of c-section. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19821304Pitocin Side Effects (directly from the manufacturer’s drug insert):

• Anaphylactic reaction
• Postpartum hemorrhage
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Fatal afibrinogenemia
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Premature ventricular contractions
• Pelvic hematoma
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Hypertensive episodes
• Rupture of the uterus

According to the same drug insert, the infant may suffer from the intensification of uterine contractions or "motility" in the following ways:

• Bradycardia
• Premature ventricular contractions
• and other arrhythmias
• Permanent CNS or brain damage
• Fetal death
• Neonatal seizures have been reported

Inducing your labor can potentially lead to issues with baby:

• Problems breathing and keeping warm
• Feeding problems because they may have more trouble sucking and swallowing
• Newborn jaundice, which causes their skin and the white part of their eyes to look yellow
• A longer hospital stay after they are born or be in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Are more often readmitted to the hospital with problems
• A smaller and less developed brain when they are born.

The problem is that many women are quickly approaching their due date, or already have surpassed it, and the doctor is presenting them with an induction date.

If this is you, and you are begging for ways to help get labor started before a doctor does, then read on.You need to know that no induction method will bring a baby earthside who is not ready to be born.  Medically, this is known as a failed induction and ends in c-section.  But if baby is ready, natural induction methods can trigger labor.  Also, make sure that you are at least 39 weeks (or more) before trying to induce labor.What is developing and changing within baby at 39 weeks gestation:             

• Advanced muscle development: Aiding with the suck swallow motion of nursing
• Body temperature control
• Further brain development
• Higher body fat
• Advanced body system development: lung development, digestive system, nervous system, etc

Natural Labor Induction Methods

Sex: Sex is a commonly suggested method of natural induction due to semen containing prostaglandins, which help to ripen the cervix.  Consider a relaxing bath first; making sure the body is not tensed.  Please note, that sex is safe throughout the entire pregnancy and is not linked to premature rupture of membranes or early labor.Chiropractor:  Not only can chiropractic care ease symptoms during pregnancy, there is research that show it can ease delivery time and pain as well. Research found that women who receive chiropractic care during pregnancy have approximately 6 fewer hours of labor than women who did not receive care. Chiropractors who specialize in pregnancy (Webster Technique) can not only ease pain, but they can manipulate baby’s position, turning him into the best place to begin labor.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2647084/ and http://www.prlog.org/10119754-decreased-labor-time-with-chiropractic-care.htmlNipple Stimulation: Stimulating the nipples (including your areola, as a baby would when sucking) triggers the production of natural oxytocin. Oxytocin contracts the uterus. Massage the first nipple for 5 minutes (when there are no contractions), then wait to see what happens (around 15 mins or so) before doing more. It’s a good idea to take your mind off things by getting on with your usual duties than sitting and waiting for something to happen – so try and keep busy! Once labor is well established again, stop the stimulation. http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/nipple-stimulation-how-to-do-nipple-stimulation-for-labourAcupuncture: Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to induce women who are post dates in their pregnancy. Most of the time one treatment is all that is needed to get the process going. Sometimes a second treatment may be needed. Through continual research, it’s been found that induction using acupuncture generally works within 6-48 hours of having your treatment http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19922252Acupressure/Trigger Points: You can find a wonderful reference of acupressure for pregnancy and birth here: http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/download-booklet/

• The first area on the body used for stimulating labor is located between the thumb and index finger. This point is actually the “webbing” between these two areas. Techniques vary, but this pressure point can be pressed and rubbed for several seconds or simply pressed firmly for approximately one minute and then released. This technique can also be used during active labor to relieve pain.

• The next area of the body used for stimulating labor is the ankle. This area actually has two different pressure points. The first pressure point is located on the outside of the ankle, just behind where the bony prominence is. Just like the first mentioned location, techniques vary but the pressure point can be rubbed or pressed for several seconds or one minute. The other ankle pressure point is inside the leg, above the ankle. This area may be difficult to find but it is more sensitive to touch than the rest of the leg.

• Another area is located on the back, above the buttocks and lower back. This area can also be pressed or massaged as tolerated.

Homeopathy— Homeopathic remedies use highly diluted versions of more potent substances to treat the body. Pulsatilla and Caulophyllum are two commonly used homeopathic remedies used to stimulate labor.Evening Primrose Oil:  EPO may not induce labor, but it can prime and soften your cervix. You may take the oil orally or insert it vaginally for the best results.Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: Keeping you hydrated, as well as simulating contractions, RRL Tea has been used to tone the uterus and possibly bring labor on if the baby is ready.

Cinnamon stick tea: Take cinnamon sticks and boil them into a tea and drink. It actually tastes good so even if it doesn't bring on labor it may help you to relax.Clary Sage Oil: One of the numerous health benefits of clary sage essential oil is to promote relaxation and pain relief during labor. It is specifically useful where muscular tension arises from mental or emotional stress.  Mix CSO with a carrier oil (Like Coconut Oil) and rub on before using acupressure for best labor-educing results.Pineapple: Most tropical fruits such as pineapples, mango, papaya, and kiwi contain proteolytic enzymes, enzymes which break down protein and are thought to have certain medicinal properties.  Pineapples have been used as an anti-inflammatory, digestive aid, diuretic, and also to induce labor.  Bromelain, a type of proteolytic enzyme found in pineapples, may help to soften the cervix which could explain how it helps to bring on labor.  Since it is also used as a digestive aid, it may stimulate the bowels to move, which could bring on contractions as well.Wide Squats, Stair lunges, and Curb Walking: Walking on an uneven surface such as a curb or lunging up the stairs can help drop baby into a lower and engaged position for labor to begin. Squatting reduces the birth canal by 10% and helps to get baby into the lowest position for birth.Exercise/Walking: The pressure of your baby’s head pressing down on the cervix stimulates the release of oxytocin, hopefully bringing on labor, also just being upright gets the forces of gravity working for you, encouraging the baby to move down into the pelvis.Castor Oil:  Rubbing two tablespoons of castor oil on the belly (around the uterus) can possibly cause contractions, leading to labor.Enemas or other bowel preparations (drinking castor oil): This causes the bowels to contract and could cause the uterus to contract. Use with caution as castor oil can cause vicious diarrhea.