Having a child is one of the most joyful and rewarding experiences in life. Sometimes however, the baby can be quite reluctant to leave the safety and comfort of the womb. If you are overdue and tired of waiting, you could try some things at home to induce labor naturally. In this article we will explore what methods are safe to use at home.
You and your doctor most likely discussed medical induction by now. It is, however, important to understand that medications come with a potential danger and side effects. They should be used only as an emergency, after more natural approaches have been explored.
The first thing that comes to mind when making babies is sex. You started your pregnancy with sex, why not end it the same way. Semen contains prostaglandins, hormones that help ripen the cervix. During orgasm a woman releases oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions. Nipple stimulation also releases oxytocin.
At nine months pregnant many women don’t desire sex. No problem, there are other options. The simplest one includes gravity. The idea is simple – using the force of gravity to help the baby to descend and speeding up the labor process. Walking or bouncing on an exercise ball can do the trick.
Herbs like blue and black cohosh are another option, but its use is somewhat controversial as they may compromise both the mother’s and the baby’s health. Blue and black cohosh can cause severe bleeding during labor and cardiac problems in newborn babies. Not advisable.
One of the most safest methods of non-invasive labor induction comes from Asia and has been in use for thousands of years. It’s called maternity acupressure and it’s specifically intended to help with pregnancy and childbirth.
Maternity acupresure is similar to acupuncture. Not to worry, it’s based on the same ideas, but it doesn’t use needles like acupuncture. Instead it uses gentle finger pressure to stimulate specific points located on hands, shoulders, lower back, legs, and feet. This points are called acupoints. This is a very effective method. Recommended.