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Here’s a scenario that happens to about 1 in 10 pregnant women: Imagine you’re 40+ weeks pregnant and very ready to have that baby, but nothing seems to be happening. What do you do?
This was my story just a couple months ago—I was 41 weeks + 5 days pregnant and my midwife team wanted me to come in for a medical induction. They wanted it on a Friday because they told me they have minimal staff on the weekends- (how convenient for them!) I told them that I wanted to wait over the weekend to see if I could stimulate labor naturally and they said yes, on the condition that I would get more antenatal testing and would promise to admit myself on Monday if nothing happened.
In this type of situation, doctors usually recommend a medical induction, which is done using Pitocin, an artificial form of the hormone Oxytocin. This stimulates contractions to get labor started. But many times, the Pitocin can cause super contractions which can be very painful and can also lead to other medical interventions in the birth process.
There are also a few non-chemical techniques which may be used in the medical office:
- Membrane sweep- this is a somewhat uncomfortable measure where the doctor/midwife inserts her/his finger onto the cervix and essentially does a forceful Pap smear.
- Another technique uses the Foley Bulb. This is a small balloon type object that is inserted into the cervix and is inflated to force dilation. The cervix has to be somewhat dilated already so that they can insert the bulb, so it’s not an option if you are not dilated at all.
- Lastly, medical providers can also perform an Artificial Rupture of the Membranes (ARM) in which the amniotic sac is punctured.
I wanted to have a natural, non-medicated VBAC, so I wanted to avoid the side effects of Pitocin and try all the natural techniques first. In those two weeks post-due date, I tried to get as much information as possible on all the techniques. Here’s what I found:
- Sex- Seminal fluid contains prostaglandins which, upon contact with the cervix, can help with dilation. Sex also helps in the release of natural Oxytocin which can initiate contractions.
- Walking- Helps move the baby down which can also stimulate dilation of the cervix.
- Castor Oil- Taking a few tablespoons of this can help stimulate the bowels and lower nervous system to start contractions. It’s also known to cause diarrhea and cramping, so I put this on the bottom of my to-do list!
- Raspberry Leaf tea- This herb is supposed to help tone the uterus and may help in stimulating contractions.
- Spicy Food- Maybe just an old wives tale, but I do think that natural spices can work on the immune system and may help in stimulating the autonomous nervous system which manages internal organs, including the uterus.
- Nipple stimulation – The idea is that as an erogenous zone, the sensation can be similar to sex to release Oxytocin.
- Acupuncture- A local doula and natural birth activist told me about an acupuncturist who specializes in women’s health and natural induction.
After trying most of the methods mentioned (except for castor oil & nipple stimulation) , I scheduled an appointment with the acupuncturist who asked my husband to join me on the first visit so that he could learn how to perform a series of acupressure points on me at home. We went and I first got the acupuncture treatment, which uses tiny hollow needles. And no, they don’t hurt! Then the accupunturist showed my husband how to do a series of movements using pressure and/or rocking. Each series of acupressure helps with a different aspect of labor: contractions, descent, and dilation.
You can see a video of my husband applying the sacral rocking technique here: http://www.facebook.com/l/yAQFAG1xlAQGorryeeZj7oRfOss3FNIbeycE6AY6hZQe-2A/www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6hSN8MCFv4&feature=g-upl
This was on a Thursday evening. I went back for a second treatment on Friday morning. My husband did the acupressure on me after each office session. Then, about 13 hours after my second treatment, I starting having contractions, and had my baby in arms just 6.5 hours later! It worked and I got the natural, non-medicated birth experience that I wanted!
So if you find yourself in this predicament, or even if you haven’t yet reached your due date, get to know your options so that you can have a dialogue with your medical provider. I’m glad I did.
The post Get Things Moving, Baby! Natural Induction Methods appeared first on Preggie Pals.