How to Induce Labor - Naturally & Medically

Inducing labor for childbirth can be difficult because ultimately the baby will come when it is ready. There are always medications to induce labor, but ideally you want it to happen naturally. There are ways to induce labor on your own while at home. Nothing works 100% of the time, but they are definitely worth giving a try! And, I'll share some of the medication used to induce labor as well.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. First, start with ways to induce labor on your own.
   
   Try a sitting on a birthing ball throughout the day. This opens up the pelvic area by a great percentage. The baby can start to lower easier, thus helping you to dilate from the pressure from your baby.

2. 
    

   Walking.
   
   Walking is most helpful if your body has already initiated the laboring process. Walking can help, but you also want to remember to keep your strength. You may have to walk a long time to help things going.

3. 
    

   Herbal teas.
   
   Anytime you put something into your body, make sure you talk with your doctor. Talk with your medical professional about what teas specifically may help.

4. Bowel movements.
   
   Toward the end of your pregnancy and prior to giving birth your body often naturally softens your stools. It allows more room for the baby to come down the birth canal. You can try giving yourself and enema to create this process if it's not happening for you naturally. Besides helping by giving the baby room it also can help the cervix to ripen.

5. 
    

   Acupressure.
   
   There are different places on your body that, when pressure is applied, can help induce labor. One place you can try acupressure is right above the ankle bone on your inner leg. From that bone, go up four finger breadths and apply pressure.

6. Having Sex.
   
   Having sex can naturally cause contractions. Semen also has prostaglandins which can help soften the cervix. Nipple stimulation can also help because it reduces oxytocin which helps contractions.

7. Stripping of the membranes.
   
   Stripping your membranes is actually a medical intervention to help induce labor, but I'm adding it in-between the natural stuff you can do on your own and full medical intervention because it is non invasive and tends to help the body do what it would do naturally.

8. 
    

   Get medical intervention.
   
   Obviously, you'd like labor to come on it's own. Don't try to get your little one out before it is time. Having said that, there are times, because a mother is significantly overdue or for medical reasons, when labor does need to take place. Medical intervention may be the only thing to make that happen. Besides stripping your membranes (step 7) a few other options would be:
   
   - Breaking your water (artificial rupture of membranes)
   - Use of Pitocin
   - Prostaglandin gel
   
   Make sure to talk with your midwife or doctor about each of these and research positives and negatives to each intervention. These, of course, are invasive procedures. Make sure you are informed!

Tips & Warnings

• Talk to your doctor or midwife to make sure he or she is comfortable with these techniques.
• It is important that you don't try to induce labor too early. Don't try any of these techniques before 38 weeks in pregnancy unless told to do so by a medical professional.

Resources

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• Life - simpler, cheaper, greener!
• Products for the Journey Ahead - Motherhood!

[edieness]

on 5/17/2009 I wish I would have read this one 3 babies ago. LOL 5 *

[westernmom]

on 5/11/2009 All very interesting ways. Back in the olden days I did try a few of these! Thanks for sharing. 5*