Doctors expect birth to occur 38 to 42 weeks from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period. Combined with ultrasound, uterine size and dates the mother thinks she conceived or first felt movement, this can be fairly accurate. Labor should only be encouraged if the due date has passed, the pregnancy is normal and the mother is well-rested. A combination of techniques may be more effective than a single remedy. There are no clinical studies confirming the safety of home labor-induction methods, and active labor should always be monitored by a health-care professional.
Acupressure
Acupressure points on the mother's shoulders, legs and feet may trigger labor. Starting with a relaxing foot rub, contractions may begin following steady pressure applied to one of these spots: outside the leg above the ankle, below the ankle, the bottom of the second toe, the center of the forehead or the tops of the shoulders. In "A Book for Midwives," a text written for the Hesperian Foundation, author Susan Klein advises readers to hold pressure for 30 seconds, wait two minutes and repeat, alternating for up to 10 minutes. Then rest and try again later.
Nipple Stimulation
Rubbing and pulling on the nipples causes the body to release hormones that trigger contractions. Unless a woman feels comfortable doing this, using a breast pump or having her partner touch her breasts, she should not attempt this method. Klein suggests nipple stimulation be done for 20 minutes every hour, or 10 minutes every 1/2 hour, until a regular pattern of labor pains is established. It is best to start nipple stimulation in the morning and quit in the evening. If labor does not begin, the mother should go to bed and sleep. She may wake up in labor.
Purgatives
It once was common practice in hospitals to administer a full enema of warm water with a tablespoon of castile soap to speed up labor. Dr. Josie Tenore of Northwestern University Medical School says in an article published in the May 2003 issue of American Family Physician that there is no scientific evidence that enemas can induce labor. However, stimulating the bowels in a way that causes abdominal cramps has long been thought to trigger uterine contractions. Prune juice or castor oil, taken with breakfast, typically produces results within six hours. Caution should be taken to prevent feces from entering the vagina, which could cause infection.
Herbs and Prostaglandins
Recommended dosages on the label of herbal preparations should be followed closely. Results can be unpredictable, and safety and reliability have not been established by scientific studies. Stop using herbs if side effects, such as nausea, occur. Prostaglandins are thought to be the active ingredient in evening primrose oil, which can be taken by mouth or used as a lubricant. Tenore writes that prostaglandins in male semen can soften the cervix. Elizabeth Davis, author of "Heart and Hands," suggests using tincture of blue cohosh to stimulate contractions. Caulophyllum is a homeopathic form of blue cohosh.
References
- "A Book for Midwives"; Susan Klein, Suellen Miller, Fiona Thomson; 2000
- American Family Physician: Methods for Cervical Ripening and Induction of Labor
- "Heart and Hands"; Elizabeth Davis; 2004
