How to Induce Labor & Delivery

There are a number of reasons your doctor might decide to induce labor: you've gone two weeks past your official due date, your baby is very large, you have had a complicated pregnancy, or if your water has broken but you haven't yet gone into labor. If you're ready to have your baby, but your doctor isn't yet ready to induce you, there are some things you can do to get your body moving toward labor and delivery. You should always check with your doctor before trying any methods of induction.

Instructions

Self-Induction Techniques

1. Take a long walk. If you are having contractions but not real labor, the swaying of your hips combined with the pressure of gravity can bring your baby into position to be born.

2. Try sex. It may be the last thing on your mind, but the combination of prostaglandins in semen and contractions from orgasm may move you from mild to hard contractions.

3. Talk to your doctor or midwife about nipple stimulation. Because the effects of the oxytocin released by nipple stimulation can be strong and sudden, your doctor will probably want to monitor you during the process.

Doctor-Assisted Induction

1. See your doctor. If you still have not gone into labor and are at the point when your doctor is ready to induce you, there are a number of procedures she can try.

2. Strip your membranes. This process---which feels a lot like a gynecological exam---entails separating the amniotic sac from the uterus to increase the production of labor-causing prostaglandins. This should only be performed by a medical professional. Ideally, this process stimulates labor within a few days.

3. Break your water. The next stage of induction requiring medical intervention is usually the rupturing of the membranes---also called breaking your water---and receiving an IV containing prostaglandins to stimulate labor. This almost always takes place in a hospital setting.

Tips & Warnings

• Nonmedical methods of inducing labor are most likely to be successful if your body is already prepared for labor---if your cervix is dilated and you are having small contractions.

• Herbal remedies for inducing labor aren't recommended unless your doctor specifically suggests them, since some herbs can have strong effects on your uterus. You should never try to induce labor before your due date unless there is a medical reason to do so, since it's possible that your due date might have been miscalculated and your baby might not be ready for birth.

References

• Natural Ways to Induce Labor
• Inducing Labor