Natural Alternatives to Induce Labor

During this morning’s class, one of the students proudly announced that today was her due date. She was anxiously awaiting the start of her labor and excited to meet her baby. (I think there was equal excitement about the idea of not being pregnant anymore!) She then went on to say that her doctor has set an induction date for 8 days after her due date. She expressed great concern that she would not go into labor naturally and end up with a medical induction, a situation which she was hoping to avoid. I explained that there are several “natural methods” to help start labor that are worth investigating if she was interested.

Coming from the standpoint of a certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator, I strongly believe that we should wait for labor to start on its own. The very first of the “6 Care Practices” is “Labor Begins on its Own.” It has been well documented that once medical intervention starts, a “cascade effect” is in motion which will often lead to the necessity of more and more medical procedures and intervention.

Of course, there are very valid reasons for which a medical induction is necessary. For example, if the mother has diabetes, high blood pressure, the mother or baby is in distress, the mother has reached 42 weeks, or the fluids have ruptured and labor has not begun after several hours. Note: Convenience is NOT on this list! Suspecting a large or very large baby is also not a medical reason for induction. In a November 2002 press release, ACOG reported that induction of labor for macrosomia (large baby) almost doubled the cesarean rate without improving perinatal outcomes (the health of the baby).

If your reason for induction is not a medical emergency, and you have time, here are a few methods that may help move things along. I strongly urge you not to dabble in the more aggressive methods unless you really are at risk for a medical induction and that you consult your care provider before proceeding. Also keep in mind that a lot of these methods will not work unless your body is ready.

Sex – It’s how you got into this situation, it’s how you get out! The release of semen onto the cervix can aid in softening it since it contains the hormone prostaglandin. Also, the body releases oxytocin during orgasm and nipple stimulation. This is the same hormone that contracts the uterus during labor. So, between the two, you have a good chance of moving things along!

Acupuncture – There was a study done through the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Vienna, Austria to evaluate whether acupuncture at term can influence cervical ripening, induce labor and thus reduce the need for postdates induction. Conclusion: Acupuncture at points LI4 and SP 6 supports cervical ripening at term and can shorten the time interval between the EDC and the actual time of delivery.

As Francis Goodwin, LAC states, “Acupuncture inductions do not stress the fetus the way synthetic hormonal inductions can.” This is definitely an alternative I would recommend before submitting to a medical induction.

Evening Primrose Oil – If you are not feeling up for a little romp around the bedroom, evening primrose oil may have the same effect since it contains prostaglandin. After 36 weeks, it can be applied directly to the cervix to help it “ripen”. If you do not feel comfortable inserting anything directly into the body, you can take the evening primrose oil orally. If you are interested in taking this, the recommended dosage is 2,500mg capsules a day. *** DO NOT insert the oil if your membranes have ruptured!!!

Castor Oil – The idea behind the use of castor oil is that it helps quickly empty the intestines. This can sometimes help trigger uterine contractions. I have successfully used this method with some clients. I recommend one tablespoon of castor oil mixed with orange juice and vodka.

If the idea of castor oil doesn’t sound appealing, try eating a lot of licorice, the real licorice candy, the black kind, especially Panda brand, which is definitely real licorice, or Bassett’s Allsorts, which might be tastier. Licorice contains the chemical, glycyrrhizin, which stimulates the production of prostaglandins. In addition, eating lots of licorice might cause a mild diarrhea, and intestinal contractions can cause sympathetic uterine contractions.

Stripping the Membranes – THIS PROCEDURE NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED BY A MIDWIFE OR DOCTOR!!!! This procedure is done by the doctor or midwife inserting two fingers inside the cervix and separating the amniotic sac from the cervix. This may stimulate the body’s natural production of prostaglandin. “In two studies, sweeping the membranes successfully induced labor in half the cases attempted.”¹

Uterine Stimulating Herbs – Black cohosh (Caulophyllum) and blue cohosh (Cimificugua). I am not an herbalist or homeopathic doctor, so my knowledge of these herbs is remedial. If you are interested in an herbal supplement to stimulate your labor, I would recommend contacting a specialist in this area. The reason I include this suggestion is to make you aware that this is an option, but I also stress that the use of these herbs should be supervised.

Relaxation – You can go ahead and try all the methods listed above, but if you are stressed and tense, chances are they will not produce the desired effect. Your body needs to be relaxed and calm for it to open. Maybe this is why so many women start labor in the middle of the night. Try taking a warm bath, catch a movie, stroll through the park or come to a prenatal yoga class! Anything that quiets the mind will be helpful.

I hope that you found this list of alternative methods helpful and that you have a beautiful labor!

¹ Gaskin, Ina May. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Pg 216.

2 comments August 23rd, 2007

Birth is Normal, Natural and Healthy

Last weekend I went to California for my husband’s cousin’s wedding. It has now been almost three year since our own wedding and three years since I have seen many of these people. So the “big question” was not so subtly brought up. “When are you thinking of having children?” “Hopefully soon” I answered. At my in-laws house I expanded a bit on this and said excitedly, that I want to have a home birth. Two of the teachers at the PYC had a wonderful experience birthing at home and I would like to have the opportunity to birth where I feel the safest and most comfortable, right in my home. My father-in-law had the same reaction as pretty much everyone I share this idea with, “What if something happens?!”. Well, if something “happens” the hospital is less then 15 blocks away and I go there. My midwife would not allow me to birth at home if I am a high risk patient, (which the majority of women are NOT) but if that is the case then I will deliver in the labor and delivery unit.

My father-in-law’s perception that pregnancy, labor and birth needs to be a medical event, is not too off base from the view point of our culture these days. When in fact, for the majority of women pregnancy, labor and birth is a natural function of the body! *As renowned French physician Dr. Michel Odent has said “One cannot help an involuntary process. The point is not to disturb it.” We don’t need a medical team or noisy, beeping machines telling how to digest food, cough, sneeze, poop, cry, laugh and breathe and we don’t need them telling us how to birth. What is more helping is having a supportive group that allows you space and time to work through labor and only step in when MEDICALLY necessary. (By medically necessary, I mean free of routine interventions!)

Unfortunately we are bombarded with the negative images that women are helpless and incapable at birthing their own babies. When was the last time that a movie or TV program portrayed a laboring woman as strong, confident and capable. (Well, Knocked Up- did do a pretty good job!) But the majority of the media uses pregnancy, labor and birth as a means to create humor and provoke fear. And whether it is on a subconscious level or not, that is what we start to believe is the truth.

I often encourage women to read some positive birth stories. Long time midwife, Ina May Gaskin, has two wonderful books filled with positive birth experiences. There are pictures of women relaxed, smiling, naked and instinctually positioned birthing their babies. These are not a special group of women. These are women just like you and me, expect that they have placed themselves in the situation where birth is seen as normal and natural.

The very first sentence of the Lamaze International Philosophy of Birth is “Birth is normal, natural and healthy.” Another segment from the philosophy is “Women’s confidence and ability to give birth is either enhanced or diminished by the care provider and place of birth.” The Farm (yes, that is the name of Ina May’s Birthing Center) has a 1.4% cesarean rate while many of the NYC hospitals average over 30%. However, the World Health Organization states that no region in the world is justified in having a cesarean rate greater than 10 to 15 percent. We can’t just blame the doctors for this outrageous statistic. We need to look at ourselves, our ideas of birth and those around that influence our decisions. The women that birth at Ina May’s Birthing Center are not any different physically then us proud Manhattenites! But perhaps mentally and emotionally they are. They have the confidence in themselves to believe in their own innate power and wisdom to birth their babies without allowing technology and fear to dictate how and when they should birth.

Next time you are watching TV and a hysterical pregnant woman is in labor, change the channel. Let’s not reinforce this negative stereotype. Instead let us pave the way for our daughters to believe in their body’s natural capability.

*I have included a few links to interesting articles about the escalating cesarean rate in our country as well as statistics from The Farm Midwifery Center

The Farm Midwifery Center: Outcomes of 2,028 pregnancies: 1970-2000
Births completed at home – 95.1%
Non-emergency transports - 3.6%
Emergency transports - 1.3%
Cases with no hemorrhage - 98.2%
Cases of postpartum hemorrhage - 1.8%

View an interesting article on the comparison of c-section rate of multiple countries.

Article: Sharp Rise of C-Sections Defies Best Evidence and Best Practice

*The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth, Goer, Henci, pg 5

Add comment August 13th, 2007