5 Amazing Ways to Induce Labor
Discovering ways to induce labor will allow you to be more prepared and relaxed as you wait to give birth.
Doctors usually decide on looking for ways to induce labor when there is some kind of concern for the health of the mother or the baby. They usually use artificial hormones to provoke it, and administer these in the hope of stimulating contractions.
Of course, you should bear in mind that approximately one out of every 4 women doesn’t have a normal birth, despite the use of drugs. As a result, the only option left is a cesarean section.
5 amazing ways to induce labor
Some of these suggestions will surprise you, however their aim is to positively induce labor and help you have a normal birth.
1. Garlic
Garlic helps stimulate your intestines, causing softer stools. Having an empty intestine will give the baby more room to move into position.
Eating garlic has been known to trigger contractions. It can also help your body prepare for a speedy birth.
2. Exercise
Physical activity helps move the baby’s head to the pelvis area, and press on the cervix, thus helping to dilate it. Because of this, doctors recommend walking for 30 minutes a day.
In fact, if you’re able to walk uphill you’ll help the baby move in the right direction! Additionally, climbing stairs and doing squats will also help stimulate induction.
3. Raspberry tea
It’s a good idea to drink raspberry tea when you reach 24 weeks of pregnancy, as this can help you have a shorter labor. Consuming raspberry tea will help tone the uterus and prepare it for delivery.
As a result, the intake of raspberry leaves can shorten the second stage of labor, minimizing the risk of having a cesarean.
4. Baths with hot water
Research has shown that stress and tension can prevent labor from starting. Taking a bath with hot water can help when it comes to inducing labor. It’ll help you relax and distract you from what is happening. All of this is very beneficial.
“Keeping your eyes open and your mind focused will allow you to have the balance you need”
5. Acupuncture and acupressure
Acupuncture and acupressure are natural ways to induce labor. They’re processes that help soften and dilate the cervix when labor contractions begin. With acupuncture, fine needles are placed at various points on the body to balance the flow of energy.
In acupressure, meanwhile, the fingers are used to apply pressure on the pressure points that are worked on when giving labor inducing massages.
What happens after induction?
In most cases, when you induce labor, it leads to successful vaginal delivery. If, on the contrary, the induction of labor fails, you may have to try other methods of induction or carry out a cesarean section.
Keep in mind that the benefits of the different ways to induce labor generally outweigh the risks listed below.
Risks of inducing labor
Failed induction
Surprisingly, about 25 percent of new mothers who are induced may need cesarean section.
Low heart rate
Medications used to induce labor (oxytocin or prostaglandin) can cause abnormal or excessive contractions. These drugs can decrease your baby’s oxygen supply and heart rhythm.
Infection
Some ways of inducing labor may increase the risk of infection for both the mother and the baby.
Uterine rupture
This is a rare but very serious complication, in which the sides of the uterus open along the scar line of a previous cesarean or uterine surgery.
Bleeding after childbirth
Inducing labor increases the risk that the uterine muscles won’t contract properly after giving birth. This can result in severe bleeding after giving birth.
In short, if you’re pregnant, understanding the different ways to induce labor can help prepare you for that special day. Bear in mind that this doesn’t need to be a negative experience.
Keeping your eyes open and your mind concentrated will allow you to have the balance you need.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Cheang KI., Nguyen TT., Karjane NW., Salley KES., Raspberry leaf and hypoglycemia in gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstet Gynecol, 2016. 128 (6): 1421-1424.
- Tatano Beck C., Casavant S., Synthesis of mixed research on posttraumatic stress related to traumatic birth. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2019. 48 (4): 385-397.
