According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, induced labor has doubled since 1990, with approximately 1 in 5 pregnant women opting for this due to a variety of circumstances, such as carrying past term or water breaking with no contractions. With the increase in demand for induction, safe practices are essential to prevent harm to mother and baby. Typical methods of induction are performed under medical supervision, however. Home remedies also offer alternatives to invasive medical or medication means. Home-induced labor methods should be carefully explored with a physician prior to attempts, because there may be unforeseen risks to both mother and baby.
Low-Impact Exercise
Light aerobic exercise done at home can facilitate labor. According to the Dr. Spock website, walking may help put the baby in position for birth, once contractions have already started. On the same token, climbing stairs and squatting also aid in positioning the baby and opening the pelvis to prepare for birth. Exercise is not a certain means for inducing labor and should not be performed if you are in a high-risk pregnancy or if other health risks exist during pregnancy. Consult your physician about any exercise performed at-home to induce labor naturally, prior to attempting it.
Increase Hormones
The American Pregnancy Association explains that increasing natural hormones through nipple stimulation or intercourse aids with inducing labor. Oxytocin, a hormone produced in females, stimulates contractions. Manually stimulating the nipples for approximately 15 minutes, either through use of a breast pump or massage releases oxytocin to prompt contractions. Sexual intercourse also offers the introduction of the male hormone prostaglandin found in sperm, which is thought to stimulate contractions. The Mayo Clinic notes that the cervix must be ready to open for labor for these methods to work and warns that further research on the safety of these methods is needed.
Food and Herbs
A variety of methods involving food suggests that labor is induced through eating pineapple, spicy foods or ingesting castor oil. According to Nemours, it is not safe to use castor oil because of the side effects of nausea, diarrhea and dehydration, which will cause discomfort and may not work for the intended purpose. The Mayo Clinic notes that trying pineapple or spices is not necessarily harmful, but it does not warrant much in the way of evidencing successful labor induction. The herbs blue and black cohosh, suggested by Dr. Spock, may increase uterine contractions that already begin, but safety with these herbs is unknown. Prior to trying any food or herbal supplement for at-home labor induction, discuss it with your physician to determine effectiveness and safety.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Can I Do Anything to Trigger Labor on my Own
- American Pregnancy Association: Inducing Labor
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: ACOG Issues Revision of Labor Induction
- Dr. Spock Company: Natural Ways to Induce Labor
- Kids Health: Risks and Precautions of Inducing Labor
