Ways to Induce Labor

Quite often it has been seen that the expecting mother would be ready for the entire process of delivering the baby and to start a whole new phase of life, but her due date just comes and goes and nothing happens. Although surpassing the due or maturity date is quite normal nowadays, it may leave the expecting mother disheartened and sometimes annoyed after so much of anticipation and excitement. With so many invasive or natural ways to induce labor, you can surely get confused with deciding which one is safe and works best for you.

There are different ways that might make a woman get contractions and start the labor, but they'll only work if the body is ready. These methods work by making the cervix soft, efface and dilate and so before attempting any of these methods, it is better to discuss them with your practitioner.

How to Induce Labor Naturally?

Of all other invasive methods, natural ways prove to be most helpful and safe. Therefore, here are some simple ways of inducing labor at home.

Physical Activity: If the would-be-mother is experiencing contractions but is not yet in labor, walking can make things going as it will benefit by bringing the baby into the position to be born. Standing upright and doing some simple pregnancy exercises (under doctor's suggestion), can help to move the baby down in to the pelvis and induce labor.

Making Love: Oxytocin is a hormone that contracts the uterus and induces labor. This hormone is secreted three times during a woman's life: while childbearing, breastfeeding and love making. Therefore, though making love can be one of the last things on a woman's mind when approaching near the end of her pregnancy, it can help stimulate contractions and induce labor. Semen comprises prostaglandins, a hormone which is also responsible for contracting the uterus, hence can help ripening (softening and/or thinning) the woman's cervix to prepare it for labor.

Essential Oils: From centuries, women have been using castor oil and evening primrose oil to help induce labor. Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of prostoglandins and so helps softening the uterus. It can be inserted into the vagina in a capsule form or can be applied directly on to the cervix. The castor oil has an unpleasant aroma and taste and so can be mixed with any fruit juice before drinking. The oil works by causing spasms in the intestines, which induces cramps in the uterus, that might result in labor.

Spicy Foods: Foods high in spices may stimulate digestion and increase prostaglandin production to get contractions going in the uterus and induce labor.

Herbs: Blue and black cohosh are two herbs that are prove to highly effective in inducing labor, especially if the expecting mother is having weak or irregular contractions. They work together to regulate the contractions and make them stronger.

Nipple Stimulation: Another way to induce labor is massaging the woman's nipples as it helps releasing the oxytocin hormone that causes contractions which eventually evolve in to labor. Nipple stimulation or even breast pump is a better option for those women who find love making as a difficult or painful option.

Stretching the Membranes: Stretching the membranes by a practitioner or mid wife can also help induce labor. The procedure is quite similar to vaginal examination and so can be painful and cramping. However, the process is believed to release prostaglandin hormones, that help to prepare the body for labor.

Acupressure: One of the most effective and safe method to induce labor is acupressure. By applying pressure on certain sensitive points on the skin, the cervix can begin to dilate and contractions may get started. Pinch the webbing of the thumb and finger, and rub in a circular motion for 30-60 seconds, taking a minute or so break in between the contractions. Another way is to press the four finger-widths above the inside of the ankle bone and rub in circular motion until the contractions begin.

Be Calm and Think Positive: It can be frustrating for an expecting mother, if the baby shows no sign of arrival, after its due date. Keeping calm, not taking stress and trying to connect with baby on an emotional level will help producing hormones that may improve the chances of having labor. Thinking positive and visualizing the arrival of the baby will also help the expecting mother at an emotional level.

The aforementioned labor inducing ways should be tried only when you are 40 weeks pregnant or overdue. By trying these methods before the right time, you may force the baby to come out before he/she may be ready to thrive outside the womb. Hence, try these ways only under your doctor's supervision and let the time pass pleasantly and safely.