Natural Ways to Self Induce Labor

Self induce labor means to follow the natural techniques to start labor. But it should not be attempted without having complete knowledge. You should learn about the different stages before attempting self induce labor pain. Usually it is not recommended until the pregnancy has reached 40 weeks.

Home Remedies

There are many natural home remedies for it. Pineapple is said to have inducing labor properties. It helps in the digestion of proteins in your food. If taken on empty stomach, it works like a medicine and helps in reducing swelling and pain. Besides pineapple, mango and papaya also have similar properties which make them useful for self inducing labor. But always use fresh pineapples and not canned pineapples because fresh ones have Bromelain which helps in bringing natural labor.

Alternatively, you can also choose using prostaglandin that helps to ripen your cervix. Prostaglandin can be found in evening primrose oil. So whenever you are prepared for pain, use it directly on cervix or take orally. It is recommended to take 3-4 primrose capsules a day.

Acupressure

Acupressure is another technique for self inducing labor. There are two points – One above the inner ankle on your calf of about four finger width, and the other in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger. Rub your calf or pinch the webbing on your hand in circular motion for 40 to 60 seconds at a time. Then after taking break of 1-2 minutes do it again.

Stripping Membrane

Doctors or midwife can help in self inducing labor by stripping or sweeping membrane. For this they insert their finger into your cervix and sweep from side by side, pulling the bag of water (membrane) away from the mouth of the cervix and lower uterus. The healthcare professional might take 3 to 4 attempts to induce pain. This procedure can be uncomfortable for women but not painful.

Nipple Stimulation

Nipple stimulation often causes release of oxytocin. It is the same hormone that causes uterine contractions. Nipple stimulation is recommended by midwives in case the pregnancy goes beyond the due date. For this you need to stimulate nipples for at least 15 minutes continuously on each nipple each hour. Before trying this, consult your doctor.

All these methods can be tried for self induce pain. But there can be some serious consequences if proper advice is not taken by the doctor or midwives. You might sometimes experience false pain and think of inducing labor which might prove to be harmful to your and baby’s health. If your midwife advices then surely you can try methods like castor oil, some herbs and homeopathy, sexual intercourse, orgasm with or without partner, nipple stimulation and many more as stated before, for self inducing labor.