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He gives the lowdown on some of the most common methods. Nipple stimulation is a natural way to increase oxytocin levels. Oxytocin kicks childbirth into gear by sending signals that tell your body to start contractions and labor. Emery says that nipple stimulation is the only method with data to back it up. Acupuncturists insert tiny needles into specific locations on the body to kick-start labor. Acupressure follows the same principles — but swaps the needles for firm pressure and massage.
File these two under: Feel free to try, but keep your expectations low. But what about the methods your Aunt Linda, best friend or even doctor swears by? There's no harm in walking or having sex to try and jump start your labor — it could help, and even if it doesn't, you may enjoy it!
First make sure that sex is safe for you now. But other methods — like drinking castor oil or eating spicy foods — could upset your stomach and cause nausea and diarrhea.
And some methods, including nipple stimulation and taking various herbs, could overstimulate your uterus and pose a risk to your baby. Before trying any natural ways to induce labor, make sure to talk to your caregiver. Semen contains prostaglandins, and having an orgasm may stimulate contractions. A few studies have shown that having sex when you're full-term may reduce the need for labor induction, but others have found no effect on promoting labor.
Stimulating your nipples releases oxytocin and may help start labor. While it's a time-honored approach, more research is needed to determine how effective it is. And because there's a possibility of overstimulating your uterus and stressing your baby , it's probably safer to try this in the hospital while being monitored. Castor oil is a strong laxative. Although stimulating your bowels may cause contractions, there's not a lot of definitive research showing that it helps induce labor — and you're likely to find the effect very unpleasant.
It can also lead to diarrhea and dehydration, so it's important that you stay hydrated if using castor oil. A self-administered enema works similarly to castor oil in that it stimulates the bowels, which releases prostaglandins compounds that prepare the cervix for labor into the body. Again, there's not much recent scientific evidence for an enema to bring on labor, but anecdotally, it seems to work in select cases. Like with castor oil, an enema can lead to diarrhea and leave you dehydrated.
A variety of herbs, including red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil , are said to be useful for labor induction. But right now there isn't enough evidence to prove that any of them are safe or effective at getting labor started.
And some can overstimulate your uterus or pose other risks. Walking and other forms of moderate exercise are safe during pregnancy and recommended for most women. Sadly, there's no evidence that exercise can bring on labor. However, once you are in labor , spending time upright could help shorten the process. Taking a drive on a gravel road or hitting a few speed bumps won't help start labor.
It also won't hurt your baby, since he or she is well protected from life's minor bumps by the uterus and surrounding fluid. Always err on the side of safety, however, and wear a seat belt, even in the back seat. Despite the stories about babies born quickly after their moms ate spicy pizza or a certain eggplant Parmesan, no spice or food has been scientifically proven to get labor started. Some people theorize that spicy food causes contractions by stimulating the digestive system.
Others suggest that spicy food increases production of prostaglandins, which can also help move labor along. But while an upset stomach or diarrhea could release prostaglandins into the body and stimulate mild uterine cramping, that's unlikely to be enough to cause labor. This tasty fruit contains an enzyme called bromelain, which is rumored to stimulate labor.
Doctors do not know why some women have post-term deliveries, but a study suggests that possible reasons may include:. In some situations, a doctor may recommend inducing, or bringing on, labor. However, they will first consider the risks, benefits, and necessity of the intervention. A doctor may recommend inducing labor in instances in which:. Rh factor is a protein that is sometimes present on the surface of red blood cells.
People with this protein in their blood have Rh-positive blood, while those who do not have this protein have Rh-negative blood. Typically, maternal blood does not mix with fetal blood during pregnancy. However, this can sometimes occur during a medical procedure, such as amniocentesis , or if the woman experiences trauma to the abdomen. This attack can be life-threatening for the unborn child, and it can also result in complications with subsequent pregnancies.
If it is necessary to induce labor, a healthcare professional will use certain medications and procedures to cause labor to start. These procedures include :. It is possible to ripen, or dilate, the cervix by inserting a catheter with a small balloon-type device on the end or by introducing a substance that absorbs water. A healthcare professional may burst the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby inside the uterus to start labor or to progress labor that has already begun.
They can only perform this procedure if the cervix has dilated enough to make the amniotic sac accessible. Doctors may use naturally occurring chemicals called prostaglandins to try to soften and thin out the cervix and encourage cervical dilation. They deliver prostaglandins to the cervix through the vagina. In some cases, they may administer the hormone oxytocin to induce labor by stimulating contractions.
This method can help release prostaglandins to induce labor, according to ACOG. According to one source , this may be uncomfortable for some women and is only possible following the dilation of the cervix. Some women may seek out natural or nonmedical ways to induce labor at home. However, some of these methods may not be safe. It is essential to discuss any thoughts of induction with a healthcare professional. There are several factors to consider before deciding on any method of induction.
These include the gestational age of the fetus, the fetal position, and any pregnancy complications. Nipple rolling or gentle rubbing may lead to a release of oxytocin , which could help induce labor. Exercise is advisable during pregnancy unless a doctor specifies otherwise.
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