A woman who is near the end of her pregnancy or perhaps overdue, is generally very impatient for the labor process to start on its own. In some cases, an overdue pregnancy can cause some health concerns for mother and baby. There are some natural remedies that can be used to help get labor started. These are often favorable to the chemically induced labor that must be initiated in a hospital.
Doctors will typically recommend one sure fire labor induction method. However, many women are so uncomfortable by the 40th week of pregnancy it does not appeal to them. What is the magical solution? Sex. Semen contains a form of prostaglandin, which is helpful for softening the cervix. The sex act can also trigger the hormone release of oxytocin. Oxytocin can induce contractions. Nipple stimulation can have the same effect, but without the semen benefit.
Along with a healthy sex life, there are some other things a woman can do. Eating spicy foods is believed to help stimulate contractions. The digestive system will need to work a little harder to digest the spicy food and could potentially get the body in motion for labor. However, if this does not work, a woman is usually left with some serious indigestion. Some doctors caution against eating extremely spicy foods during pregnancy because it can irritate the digestive system enough to cause diarrhea. While diarrhea may be conducive to starting labor, it can leave a woman dehydrated.
Lots of physical activity within the parameters of being healthy is an excellent way to start labor. Many women will walk a mile or two or climb several flights of stairs. The activity causes the baby’s head to push down on the cervix, which can cause the cervix to begin opening.
Acupuncture is rising in popularity, and many women are seeking out the help of an acupuncturists to get their labor started. The method is used to stimulate the cervix. Acupressure can also be used, which is similar to acupuncture but does not involve any needles. A labor coach or midwife can use their fingers to press on specific pressure points within the body to get contractions started.
There are several homeopathic remedies that women have been using for centuries to get labor started. Some aromatherapy oils are also helpful. It is important a woman only uses teas or internal remedies that have been approved by an experienced practitioner. There are some herbal remedies that can be dangerous if used improperly.
Things like raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil are believed to help get the body ready for labor and may help it come on faster. However, some experts claim they do not actually start labor but are more of a preparation for the real labor process. Homeopathic remedies create this kind of debate all the time. Some methods work for some women, and others do not. The raspberry leaf tea can be drunk or taken in capsules. Evening primrose oil capsules can be inserted into the vagina and left for several hours or the oil can be rubbed around the perineum.
Some midwives and herbalists also recommend the use of Caulophyllum in combination with Pulsatilla is believed to help get the body ready for labor. The combination can effectively get contractions started. However, it may take several days to get the contractions hard enough to start the labor process. Homeopathic remedies are typically gentler than some of the modern medicines used today. The homeopathic remedies also work to make labor more comfortable for a woman.