Natural Methods of Induction
Natural labor induction includes subtle yet effective manipulations of the body to help ripen the cervix and trigger the natural process of childbirth. Women in the final stages of their pregnancy, generally 40 to 42 weeks, may be anxious to begin their labor. Utilizing natural labor inducing techniques, women can help the body spontaneously begin the labor process as opposed to seeking medicinal options, which may lead to labor complications.
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Why Opt for Natural Induction?
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Medicinally induced childbirth, as opposed to natural induction techniques, often lead to caesarean. According to the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, when doctors initiate a labor using drugs, an emergency ceasarian will be performed if labor does not begin shortly after following the procedure. This is why starting with natural induction techniques, which do not cause the water to break, prior to medicinal induction, is beneficial for women who adamantly want to have vaginal childbirth.
In addition, the Expectant Mother's Guide, an online resource for pregnant women and new mothers, asserts that women induced medicinally often use more pain medication and have more fetal distress or stalled labor. This generally leads to an increase in forceps and vacuum-related births. Natural induction methods do not tend to increase the risk of these labor complications because they help ripen the cervix and initiate spontaneous labor.
Methods for Natural Labor Induction
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Some women have heard that drinking castor oil will initiate labor. And there is some truth to this midwives' tale. However, it is not pretty: Castor oil initiates labor by stimulating the bowels, which can cause the uterus to contract. There are more pleasant ways to initiate labor including sexual intercourse and nipple stimulation.
Sexual intercourse does help to induce labor. According to Giving Birth Naturally, an Internet resource for women, semen is the most significant source of prostaglandins, which cause the cervix to ripen. "Sex can help the cervix to dilate and efface by depositing these prostaglandins on the cervix," the website states. In addition, nipple stimulation releases oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions.
Many women claim that certain foods such as eggplant parmesan or spicy foods induce labor; the website Giving Birth Naturally, as well as Maternity Corner, another pregnancy guide, asserts that it is the basil and oregano in the dish that actually initiates contractions. In addition, red raspberry leaf tea has been used for centuries by Native Americans as a uterine tonic. Although this does not actually initiate labor, it does help to prepare the body for the event. -
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