It’s now the end of 40 weeks. You are prepared for your baby to come any day now. Only…he’s not coming. You can’t sleep because junior’s keeping you up at night. You look at your belly wondering if you’ll ever see your feet again. You wonder if it’s possible for your body to stretch any more than it has already. You are past ready to induce labor
These are all normal feelings. Pregnancy is absolutely magical and wonderful but it’s also uncomfortable and awkward. You want to get things started so you can enjoy your baby on the outside. There are several ways that you can induce labor naturally with the comfort of knowing that you are doing things naturally and without any harm to you or your baby. With that said, let’s see what you can do.
There’s always the time-tested sexual intercourse. This is not a favorite choice for most full-term moms-to-be but it is sure darn effective. Your partner’s semen contains prostaglandins. That’s a fancy hormone that helps to ripen the cervix and stimulate contractions. It’s an important hormone and he’s got lots of it. Don’t bother going to the doctor for the fake stuff. Get the real deal at home with your partner. You might be surprised that you actually enjoy yourself.
You can also try exercise. This can be walking, going up and down stairs or bending and stretching at home. These all put pressure on the pelvis and cervix readying it for the big day. Make sure you don’t overdo it and drink plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated.
Evening Primrose Oil is excellent for ripening the cervix. This oil has natural prostaglandins and the capsules can simply be inserted directly into the vagina. You can try this laying down because it can be quite oily.
Another very effective method of inducing labor is called maternity acupressure. This method is similar to acupuncture but it does not use needles. Acupuncture and acupressure has been around for thousands of years in the East and we’re just catching on in the west. Acupressure uses pressure from the hands or thumbs on certain points or meridians on the body. This is used to unblock certain areas that need to be stimulated to work more efficiently. This method helps to stimulate the uterus and strengthen contractions.
Acupressure is a safe and non-invasive approach to inducing labor. It is remarkably effective. Most women have reported going into labor within 48 hours of using acupressure. It is also a great bonding experience between you and your partner. Your partner can learn the techniques as they are quite simple to understand and your partner will have a pivotal role during the labor process. This is very rewarding for both of you.
Don’t feel pressured to be induced with artificial hormones. Have faith that you are strong enough and know your body well enough to do this on your own. Women have been doing it for millennia. We just have to believe that we can.
