If you’re searching for natural ways to induce labor then you must be overdue! That little angel that you are so excited to meet just doesn’t want to make an appearance yet! Who can blame her, floating in a sea of pure bliss, safe and sound! She’s quite happy in there and wouldn’t mind staying for a little longer. You on the other hand see things a little differently!
You’re feeling rather large, moving around takes every bit of energy that you can muster up. You’re uncomfortable and can’t get into a good position to rest, when that’s all you really feel like doing. You’ve just had enough and you want this baby out – NOW!
As every mom-to-be ambles along quite happily in her pregnancy, thinking that any time after 37 weeks will be a great time to have her baby. Occasionally the baby has other ideas, much to the mothers distress. As you draw near to 40 weeks you just know that your little angel isn’t intending to make her presence known just yet. The worst thing is that your midwife is likely to agree with your baby. At 40 weeks your midwife may discuss inducing labor with you, but she won’t do it just yet, unless there are any serious problems to contend with. This is where many women will think along the lines of natural ways to induce labor.
It’s quite a common practice to leave you until you are 42 weeks and fit to burst before your midwife will induce your labor. Inducing labor although not normally painful may be a little uncomfortable. Normally your midwife will start with ‘sweeping the membranes’ she will use her finger to sweep back and forth across the cervix, this can be followed with various medical drugs to stimulate contractions.
Surely going into labor naturally would be much better!
Ways to self induce labor
Some ways to self induce labor are as old as the hills, and women have been using them for thousands of years. Some prove to be popular and work quite well, others leave a lot to be desired. If anyone tells you to try castor oil, my advice would be to give this a miss. Although people have sworn by this self induced labor tonic for generations, medics now believe that even though it may induce labor, it could give you a bad case of vomiting and diarrhoea. This in turn can leave you very dehydrated which isn’t good for you or your baby!
Try these natural ways to induce labor instead.
- Take a walk – A leisurely stroll is all you need, no need to run a marathon.
- Try a little spicy food – Nothing too hot or you may give yourself a bad case of heartburn.
- Nipple stimulation – Each nipple must be stimulated for around 15 minutes each. The idea is to mimic a suckling baby.
- Acupressure – Becoming more widely accepted in today’s world and claimed to have a very good success rate.
- Have sex – A well known way to self induce labor, and even if it doesn’t work then it will take your mind off things for a while!
Before trying any of these methods it is of course advisable to talk to your midwife or doctor first. They may even have some other forms of self inducing labor techniques for you to try. Do not try any of these methods unless you really are overdue, it’s not wise to try and rush your baby before your due date.