Many women who are eager to give birth look for ways to start labor at home. While pregnancy may be uncomfortable and waiting for labor inconvenient, pregnant women should avoid using herbs to stimulate labor at home. If you have a medical reason for induction, discuss the best way to induce your labor with your doctor or midwife. Black cohosh and other herbs are not well-studied and may not be safe or effective.
Pregnancy
Human pregnancy typically lasts approximately 40 weeks. While some babies are born on their due dates, most babies are born a short time before or a short time after. Some women have medical complications, including hypertension and diabetes, and are appropriate candidates for labor induction. However, most women and babies benefit from awaiting spontaneous labor in the absence of medical complications.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is a plant that is native to North America. This herb is part of the buttercup family and has a long history of medicinal use by Native Americans. Black cohosh is traditionally used to treat arthritis, but is now often used to treat perimenopausal night sweats and hot flashes. Use of black cohosh may trigger liver complications. There are not enough studies to indicate the safety of cohosh to treat medical problems or symptoms.
Preparation for Labor
Labor is a complicated physiological process that starts days before you give birth. Your cervix softens and thins over time as the baby's head moves into your pelvis and presses against your cervix. Many women are already dilated a couple of centimeters before labor starts. If you have already had a baby, you may be dilated several centimeters for days or weeks before labor starts. The best facilitator of this preparation for labor is simply time, but regular intercourse may hasten cervical ripening. Avoid using black cohosh and other herbs for cervical ripening.
Labor
Labor is the process of your uterus engaging in powerful contractions to completely dilate your cervix and move your baby through your pelvis. While little is known about black cohosh, it appears to work to relax the uterus, rather than trigger powerful contractions, according to the Mayo Clinic. You should encourage your labor with position changes, hydration and relaxation between contractions. If your labor requires further stimulation, nipple massage can trigger your body to release oxytocin, or your doctor or midwife may recommend IV oxytocin. Avoid herbs such as black cohosh during labor, as they may not be safe for you and your baby.
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