40 weeks has passed and you have been waiting for this moment for so long. Your bag is packed, you are ready to go. You wait an wait and wait...nothing. You feel more and more anxious at the thought of a medical induction. Before your stress levels get to high, explore the option of how to self induce labor naturally. These labor inducing strategies are backed up with medical evidence.
You have probably heard about inducing labor with sex and orgasms. What is the evidence? Sex and orgasms trigger the release of oxytocin and may stimulate the induction of labor. In addition semen contains prostaglandins which help to ripen the cervix. There is no evidence that sex works to induce labor. Keep in mind that if your water has broken having sex may increase the risk of infection.
Castor oil is a commonly used method of self induction. A study carried out by Garry et al in 2000 found that of 100 overdue women, 57.7 per cent began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil. There were no adverse side effects reported but all the women felt nauseous. Nausea is likely to be an immediate effect and this can be followed by diarrhoea. This leads to an increased risk of dehydration. Because of the unpleasantness and risk involved this method of inducing labor is not highly recommended.
Nipple stimulation is used to induce labor by gently rolling the nipple in between a thumb and finger. This releases the hormone oxytocin which initiates contractions and induces labor. In 2005, Kavanagh et al showed 37% of women who used nipple stimulation into labour within 72 hours.
However the most effective method of inducing labor naturally is using the maternity acupressure technique. The 2005 study in the Complementary Medicine Journal showed a significant number of women using acupressure went into labor quicker, had a less painful experience and had a shorter labor.
Read a review of Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth using Maternity Acupressure by Dr. Lena Leno.
Even more significant is the results published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2004. This study showed that by stimulating one single acupressure point labor pains were significantly reduced and total labor time was much shorter. There is no evidence of any adverse effects on mother or baby.
You have probably heard about inducing labor with sex and orgasms. What is the evidence? Sex and orgasms trigger the release of oxytocin and may stimulate the induction of labor. In addition semen contains prostaglandins which help to ripen the cervix. There is no evidence that sex works to induce labor. Keep in mind that if your water has broken having sex may increase the risk of infection.
Castor oil is a commonly used method of self induction. A study carried out by Garry et al in 2000 found that of 100 overdue women, 57.7 per cent began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil. There were no adverse side effects reported but all the women felt nauseous. Nausea is likely to be an immediate effect and this can be followed by diarrhoea. This leads to an increased risk of dehydration. Because of the unpleasantness and risk involved this method of inducing labor is not highly recommended.
Nipple stimulation is used to induce labor by gently rolling the nipple in between a thumb and finger. This releases the hormone oxytocin which initiates contractions and induces labor. In 2005, Kavanagh et al showed 37% of women who used nipple stimulation into labour within 72 hours.
However the most effective method of inducing labor naturally is using the maternity acupressure technique. The 2005 study in the Complementary Medicine Journal showed a significant number of women using acupressure went into labor quicker, had a less painful experience and had a shorter labor.
Read a review of Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth using Maternity Acupressure by Dr. Lena Leno.
Even more significant is the results published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2004. This study showed that by stimulating one single acupressure point labor pains were significantly reduced and total labor time was much shorter. There is no evidence of any adverse effects on mother or baby.
Start learning the techniques now with this easy to follow, step by step guide complete with illustrations. Click here to find out more.
