Natural Induction of Labor

Some Reasons Why Labor Might be Induced

Almost all pregnant women’s bodies will eventually go into labor perfectly on their own. However, there are some times when labor induction might be advised:

• When a woman’s water breaks before she is actually in active labor, although this is a controversial reason to induct. If you have a hospital birth, many staff will give women a 24 hour ultimatum if her water breaks before labor starts. Often medical induction is started sooner than that. Many midwives and women feel that more time should be given to allow natural labor to start.
• When labor has started but is going super slow. This is technically not induction since labor has started but slow labor will usually call for induction methods.
• When labor has stalled.
• When there is another valid and medically based reason.

Controversial Reasons to Use Induction Methods

Some doctors recommend induction if the baby seems to be too large or if the due date has passed. Keep in mind, however, that ultrasounds can be wrong about baby size and expected due dates can be wildly inaccurate.

The healthiest timeframe for birth is almost always a woman’s and baby’s natural timeframe. Planning a birth around parent's or care provider's schedules is usually not a good reason to induce labor.

The only reason for inducing labor is when it’s medically indicated. For instance, as the placenta ages it becomes more inefficient and a baby receives less nutrients. Studies show that if a woman is overdue and her baby is far less active than usual, it’s a good sign that the placenta is aging.

Methods for Natural Induction of Labor

There are many natural ways to induce labor. These methods might work well for some women and but not for others. With so many ways to naturally induce labor, women can avoid medical inductions which often result in longer and more painful labors. Research shows that once a woman has one medical intervention like pitocin during labor, she is likely to have more – all the more reason to try natural induction first.

Movement

• Walking: Walking and labor induction can go hand in hand. Walking briskly is best, but a mother should never walk to exhaustion.
• Dancing: Belly dancing is said to work well. Slow dancing can be utilized for both labor induction and labor pain. The movements can help start labor and the swaying motions help relax the labor contractions.
• Birthing ball: Rolling around on a birthing ball can help, but only if you know what you’re doing. The best thing is to hire a birth doula with birth ball experience. If that’s impossible, here’s a quick primer: Get into a squat position. Wrap your arms around the upper section of the ball with your stomach up against the ball. Rock back and fourth. There is also a nice poster to order from Birth International that shows good birthing ball positions.

Nipple Stimulation

When a mother breastfeeds her baby, oxytocin, a stimulating hormone, is produced. This is the same hormone that causes contractions during labor. This natural induction of labor technique tends not to work in mothers who already have a baby because their bodies have adapted to the hormone.

How-to:

• Roll or stroke nipples with fingers. This usually needs to happen for an hour to kick labor into gear.
• Massage breasts with a warm towel.
• Breastfeed a borrowed baby – not too conventional in the United States but it will work quicker than basic nipple stimulation. As an alternative, try using a breast pump.

Bowel Stimulation

Many people consider this to be a natural induction but since it involves taking a large amount (2-6 ounces) of Castor oil, it seems more medical. Bowel stimulation has been shown to initiate labor, but induced bowel stimulation can be uncomfortable. There are also some serious questions about the safety of this practice. Read more about it at Stork Net and talk to your doctor before taking any kind of oil.

Eliminate Stress

One of the best books about birth is Spiritual Midwifery. In that book there’s a story of a woman whose labor wouldn't start. After learning that she was upset and stressed because she was unmarried, her midwife had the couple married and the woman shot right into labor. That is a great example of how stress may inhibit labor.

Women need safe and comfortable places to labor – if they don’t have that, their bodies might refuse to naturally begin labor. Some things to keep in mind about the labor space:

• Noise levels. Is there music the mother likes or perfect quiet if she prefers?
• Are there people around annoying the mother? Get rid of them.
• Is she worried about the baby, the labor, the unwashed dishes? Talking about what’s bothering a mother can help.
• Discussing pain techniques beforehand can help a mother who may be worried about pain to relax.
• Calm breathing and meditation or yoga can help.

A relaxed mother will go into labor easier.

Sex

Semen contains prostaglandins, a substance that will cause the cervix to ripen. There is also movement in sex. In addition, orgasms produce oxytocin and sex can help reduce stress. There are huge debates about sex as a labor induction technique, however, when you add up all of the above it seems like a winning labor induction choice. One item of note: intercourse or the introduction of sex toys or fingers to the vagina is contraindicated if the mother’s water has already broken because there’s a larger risk of infection.

Natural induction of labor techniques are a great way to take charge of your own labor and avoid harsh medications.