As you approach your pregnancy due date, the anticipation can become overwhelming. Your tired body and mind may be looking for any way to speed up the process. Fortunately, there are natural ways to attempt to induce labor. Walking can help your...
Care from midwives can very greatly. A certified nurse midwife working in a hospital with an obstetrician will use medically minded induction methods, such as Pitocin, artificial rupture of the membranes and vaginal prostaglandin preparations....
The female body is designed to carry a pregnancy for 40 weeks, but sometimes it may need a little boost to get labor started. With a variety of methods available, labor-inducing drugs such as pitocin and misoprostol are the main choice for...
Nature usually takes its course to bring on labor when it's time for a baby to be born. Some women can go past their due date, however, and although their bodies and the baby are more than ready to get started, nothing happens and they continue to...
It is not uncommon for many women to remain pregnant after their due date, especially for first time moms. Most obstetricians and midwives will give mom until 42 weeks to go into labor naturally, though you may be monitored more after you have...
Methods of inducing labor should only be attempted under the advice of a medical professional and once the pregnancy has reached or exceeded 37 weeks to ensure the baby is fully developed. Medical inductions are usually performed after 40 weeks...
Menstrual irregularities are common in women of all ages. Stress, illness, hormonal irregularities, perimenopause and certain medications can all lead to missed periods, late periods or unusually prolonged bleeding episodes. Fortunately, several...
Once a woman has had a detailed conversation with her doctor or midwife about labor induction, she may consider acupressure, an ancient Chinese medicine that has been used for centuries as a more natural means of inducing labor. "There are over...
Labor is divided into three stages delineated by the dilation of the cervix and changes in the uterus, according to BabyCenter website. Your physician will determine how your labor is progressing via a physical examination to determine your baby's...
Labor and delivery of a baby may last from only a few hours to several days. During this time, women experience numerous physical and emotional sensations as their bodies prepare to give birth. While each woman's labor and delivery is unique, the...
During the end of your pregnancy you may be feeling fatigued and ready to meet your little one. As the weeks tick by and you become overdue, it might seem like you will almost never give birth. Acupressure is a natural way to try and induce labor....
The birth process begins with early labor. Early labor is part of the first stage of labor, which ends when the cervix--the tissue separating the vagina from the uterus--is dilated to 10 centimeters. The early stage of labor consists of mild,...
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), also called toxemia or preeclampsia, is a condition characterized by high blood pressure, persistent swelling and high levels of protein in the urine, explains FamilyDoctor.org. PIH is more likely to occur in...
Random contractions in pregnancy can be worrying when you first experience them. When you are seven months pregnant, these contractions are usually just a slight, brief tightening. You might find them uncomfortable, or you may not feel them at...
Cervidil (dinoprostone) is used vaginally to ripen the cervix in women who are pregnant so that labor can be induced. Cervidil contains a prostaglandin hormone called PGE2, which is secreted naturally in pregnancy by the placenta and fetal...
Distinguishing between false labor and real contractions is often challenging, particularly for first-time moms. The contractions in true labor help dilate the cervix, unlike the Braxton Hicks contractions you may feel before you actually go into...
You're done. Maybe you're close to your due date, or just a little past. But the joys of pregnancy are waning and you wish to see your little one, or perhaps just your feet. It's not clear what actually triggers labor, but there are some...
Exercise during pregnancy may ease aches and pains, while helping to improve your sleep pattern, muscle tone, endurance and strength, says the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG. Unfortunately, some forms of exercise can...
Acupressure is a method that uses firm pressure on certain points of the body to activate muscle release, promote blood flow and help the body to heal itself. Acupressure is thought by its practitioners to aid in induction of labor and also to...
Many wanted pregnancies terminate early due to issues beyond a parent's control. Sometimes fetal death in utero necessitates early termination of the pregnancy. Other times, early pregnancy termination stems from maternal health conditions that...
At 37 weeks, a pregnancy is full term--if the baby is born now, it will not be premature. Ideally, however, the pregnancy will continue until 40 weeks. This final stage of the pregnancy may be difficult. The cumulative weight gain may make the...
Waiting for your new baby to arrive is a period of joy and excitement--however, the time it takes to deliver your baby can't be estimated right down to the hour. If this is your first pregnancy, labor generally lasts between 12 to 18 hours on...
Despite easy accessibility, Drug Information Online reports that ibuprofen may be unsafe to take during pregnancy. Especially in the last three months, there is a risk of birth defects. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, or NSAID,...
Labaor may be induced by drugs when it doesn't begin naturally or becomes stalled or when the life of the mother or baby is threatened if labor doesn't occur soon. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) does not recommend...
While the first labor might have been a painful and difficult experience, more women find the second labor to be a much easier -- and possibly enjoyable -- experience. While labor usually begins at term -- defined as after 37 weeks -- the...
For many women, pregnancy is one of the most exciting times of their lives. Over the course of your pregnancy you may spend time decorating your baby's nursery, shopping for baby clothes, choosing a name for your new baby and contemplating what...
Spotting a blood clot within the blood expelled during a normal menstrual cycle can be worrying, but in many cases the occasional clot is a perfectly normal occurrence. The seriousness of a blood clot found in the menstrual blood depends on the...
One of the most difficult, unforgettable and beautiful experiences of a mother's life is the birth of her child. It is important to discuss with your health care practitioner before going into labor what the plan is, when you should call your...
The World Health Organization recommends that women breastfeed their children for at least two years. Some women become pregnant again and choose to continue to breastfeed during their pregnancy and beyond. While women who have healthy pregnancies...
