A pregnancy is term between 37 and 42 weeks. In a healthy pregnancy, labor induction is generally to be avoided, as it is not without risk. Pregnant women may prefer natural induction methods, such as cohosh, to conventional induction methods, such as pitocin. This is a conversation she needs to have with her obstetrician or midwife.
Reasons for Labor Induction
According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, labor should not be induced before 39 weeks gestation except in case of emergency. Labor may be induced for pregnancies over 42 weeks, high blood pressure, uterine infection, placental abruption, broken bag of waters without contractions, or if the baby shows signs of distress.
ACOG Statement
The ACOG does not have an official statement on the use of cohosh or other alternative means of labor induction. Instead, it advocates the traditional methods of cervical ripening with synthetic prostaglandins, stripping of the membranes, breaking the bag of waters or IV administration of pitocin.
Cohosh
Cohosh comes in two forms, black and blue, and both are occasionally used by midwives for natural labor induction. According to Midwifery Today, blue cohosh, or caulophylum thalictroides, is diuretic and stimulates uterine contractions. Black cohosh, or cimicifuga racemosa, relieves muscle pain and prevents the uterus from hyperstimulation.
Research
"No long-term follow-up study has ever been carried out to show that the use of herbal remedies is safe for inducing labor," says Mothering magazine. Because herbs are an inexact science and the body mass of the mother is so much larger than that of her baby, it is difficult to determine just how much more the baby will be affected.
Warning
Labor induction is serious and should be monitored closely by an obstetrician or midwife. It is not to be attempted at home alone. The ACOG advises there are certain situations in which it should not be attempted at all: placenta previa, transverse baby, prolapsed umbilical cord or previous uterine surgery such as cesarean section. Potential risks of induction include fetal distress, uterine hyperstimulation and uterine rupture.
