When you are past your due date, you’re probably keenly awaiting for your baby to make an appearance. But before you consider medical induction, it’s important to understand the dangers of the medications. If not for medical reasons or as an emergency, you should try to avoid medical labor induction.
You should be aware that there are several natural and non-medical ways to induce labor at home. In this article we will take a closer look at some of these methods.
Sex is the first thing you could try to get your labor under way. During sex a woman releases a hormone called oxytocin, which can stimulate contractions. Additionally, the semen contains prostoglandins, which help to soften and ripen the cervix. Does it work? Well, it doesn’t hurt to try. At least it will take your mind off the waiting.
Some methods use the force of gravity to bring the baby down. Walking around, squatting, bouncing on the exercise ball and similar activities can all help the baby to descend into the birthing canal and into the world. Some women also find walking helps them to cope with the discomforts associated with contractions.
Blue or black cohosh are also often used to induce labor. These herbs are believed to strengthen contractions and helping the cervix to dilate. However, they have not been proven safe. They are known to cause serious bleeding during labor and can be harmful for the baby’s heart. Possibly unsafe, not recommended.
Using labor acupressure (or maternity acupressure) is another natural method that can be tried at home. Maternity acupressure is not very wide spread in the western civilization, but has been successfully used in Asian regions for thousands of years.
Labor or maternity acupressure uses gentle finger pressure to stimulate the specific acupoints. This can help in descending the baby, dilating the cervix, strengthening contractions, and, very importantly, relaxing the mother. Certainly one of the most safe and effective natural labor inducing methods. Recommended.
