Are you in your final stage of pregnancy? Have you been counting down the days until your due date for months on end. But now that date has come and gone and you're still pregnant. An overdue pregnancy can be very frustrating and uncomfortable. Are you feeling more and more anxious at the thought of having to have a medical induction? Here are some scientifically proven alternative methods, complete with evidence to help you self induce labor naturally and safely.
1. Maternity acupressure has been proven to be effective in inducing labor naturally by helping the baby descend, aiding in the ripening and dilatation of the cervix and increasing the frequency of contractions. Not only does maternity acupressure assist in inducing labor, it also plays a major role in pain relief during labor. Unlike pain relief medications such as epidurals, acupressure does not slow down the labor process hence reducing the risk of complications to the baby.
Read a review of Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth using Maternity Acupressure by Dr. Lena Leno
Evidence: In 2005 the Complementary Therapy and Medicine Journal published a study on women using acupressure for inducing labor. They found that a significant number of women using acupressure went into labor in a shorter space of time and with more frequent and efficient contractions. In 2004, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study showing that stimulation of one single pressure point can reduce labor pain significantly.
2. Moderate walking encourages the babies head to press down on the cervix.
This presssure on the cervix stimulates the release of oxytocin which is a hormone necessary to bring on labor.
3. Nipple stimulation works by gently rubbing the nipple. This action is said to simulate the suckling of a newborn baby and to encourage the start of uterine contractions. The theory behind this is that oxytocin, the hormone responsible for contractions, is released in the body when the breasts are stimulated. The study by Kavanagh et al in 2005 found significant benefit from nipple stimulation in women whose cervix had already started to ripen and 37% of women who tried it went into labour within 72 hours as compared to just 6 per cent of those who had not.
4. Eating pineapple and spicy foods. Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which is thought to help to soften the cervix and so bring on labour. The most likely side-effect of eating large amounts of pineapple would be diarrhoea.
5. Sex and orgasms trigger the release of the hormone oxytocin and stimulate the induction of labor. Semen contains a high concentration of prostaglandins which help to ripen the cervix. Sex is safe as long as your waters have not broken. If your water has broken having sex may increase the risk of infection. There is no concrete evidence that sex works to induce labor.
6. Castor oil acts as a powerful laxative. It also stimulate the digestive system and the uter
us and so aids in inducing labor. However it is not recommended by midwives because of its side effects of diarrhoea leading to dehydration. The study carried out by Garry et al in 2000 of 100 overdue women found that 57.7 per cent began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil, as opposed to 4.2 per cent who received no treatment. No adverse affects on mother or baby were reported but all the women who took it felt nauseous.
The simplest and most effective method available is maternity acupressure. It is a must try for any expectant mother.
Visit How To Use Acupressure For Labor for a brief introduction to maternity acupressure.
Read a review of Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth using Maternity Acupressure by Dr. Lena Leno.
1. Maternity acupressure has been proven to be effective in inducing labor naturally by helping the baby descend, aiding in the ripening and dilatation of the cervix and increasing the frequency of contractions. Not only does maternity acupressure assist in inducing labor, it also plays a major role in pain relief during labor. Unlike pain relief medications such as epidurals, acupressure does not slow down the labor process hence reducing the risk of complications to the baby.
Read a review of Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth using Maternity Acupressure by Dr. Lena Leno
Evidence: In 2005 the Complementary Therapy and Medicine Journal published a study on women using acupressure for inducing labor. They found that a significant number of women using acupressure went into labor in a shorter space of time and with more frequent and efficient contractions. In 2004, The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study showing that stimulation of one single pressure point can reduce labor pain significantly.
2. Moderate walking encourages the babies head to press down on the cervix.
This presssure on the cervix stimulates the release of oxytocin which is a hormone necessary to bring on labor.3. Nipple stimulation works by gently rubbing the nipple. This action is said to simulate the suckling of a newborn baby and to encourage the start of uterine contractions. The theory behind this is that oxytocin, the hormone responsible for contractions, is released in the body when the breasts are stimulated. The study by Kavanagh et al in 2005 found significant benefit from nipple stimulation in women whose cervix had already started to ripen and 37% of women who tried it went into labour within 72 hours as compared to just 6 per cent of those who had not.
4. Eating pineapple and spicy foods. Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which is thought to help to soften the cervix and so bring on labour. The most likely side-effect of eating large amounts of pineapple would be diarrhoea.
5. Sex and orgasms trigger the release of the hormone oxytocin and stimulate the induction of labor. Semen contains a high concentration of prostaglandins which help to ripen the cervix. Sex is safe as long as your waters have not broken. If your water has broken having sex may increase the risk of infection. There is no concrete evidence that sex works to induce labor.
6. Castor oil acts as a powerful laxative. It also stimulate the digestive system and the uter
us and so aids in inducing labor. However it is not recommended by midwives because of its side effects of diarrhoea leading to dehydration. The study carried out by Garry et al in 2000 of 100 overdue women found that 57.7 per cent began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil, as opposed to 4.2 per cent who received no treatment. No adverse affects on mother or baby were reported but all the women who took it felt nauseous.The simplest and most effective method available is maternity acupressure. It is a must try for any expectant mother.
Visit How To Use Acupressure For Labor for a brief introduction to maternity acupressure.
With simple basic instructions on where the pressure points are and how to apply pressure to them, you can safely use maternity acupressure at home to naturally induce your labor, relieve labor pain and reduce the complication risk at labor. Acupressure is now a recommended method of self inducing by midwives and health professionals.
Read a review of Easier, Shorter and Safer Birth using Maternity Acupressure by Dr. Lena Leno.
