Many women wish to speed the induction of labor in a natural way. Anecdotally, women have used a variety of foods and herbs to jump-start labor for hundreds of years, though little scientific evidence supports food use for labor induction. If you...
According to the Centers for Disease Control, labor inductions have doubled in frequency since 1990. In 2006, 22.5 percent of all deliveries began with the induction of labor. Risk of a c-section can double when a woman's labor is induced instead...
As you near the end of your pregnancy, or if your baby is already past his due date, you may start trying to think of ways to induce your labor. It is possible to get your own labor started, but it is wise to follow a couple of guidelines. First,...
Most women are ready to have their baby and be done with pregnancy as their due date draws near. There are several ways that women have used to get labor started so that delivery can occur. Some women's doctors will induce their labor. This...
Giving birth naturally provides a sense of empowerment to the new mother and minimizes potential side effects for the baby, but it can be painful. Planning ahead is key to having a successful natural delivery, but you should also be prepared to...
As they near the end of their pregnancies, many pregnant woman try to prompt their bodies to go into labor. Some of them try black cohosh, a dietary supplement that is made from the roots and underground stems of a perennial plant, Cimicifuga...
Prenatal yoga is a way for pregnant women to mentally, emotionally and physically prepare for childbirth. Yoga poses known as asanas are designed to help the body become one with the mind by focusing on proper techniques of movement guided by...
Acupressure is the art of stimulating certain parts of the body to function in different manners. For labor, there are three distinct pressure points that are known to cause contractions. For a woman that is ready to go into labor but would prefer...
Use nipple stimulation, the process of rubbing the nipples, as a natural means to start labor. Oxytocin, the hormone that controls contractions, releases throughout the body when you stimulate your nipples, according to BabyCenter. Women whose...
Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin stored in your liver and fatty tissues. You need vitamin K to make proteins for healthy bones, tissues, blood and kidney function. Vitamin K also is instrumental in clotting blood. The recommended daily allowance...
As a pregnant woman's due date approaches, she may begin to wonder if she will be able to recognize the signs of labor. While the only sure indications of labor are killer contractions and the amniotic sac rupturing, there are signs that occur as...
Using a breast pump before you give birth can stimulate contractions and bring about labor, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Therefore, it's important not to use a breast pump while pregnant without your doctor's approval. Some...
Acupressure is a holistic way to encourage your body to take action. When certain areas of your body are stimulated, your body releases chemicals and endorphins. During pregnancy, you can manipulate your body into starting labor or as relief for...
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...
Women who want to have a natural labor may want to find ways to help labor along. There are ways that can do just that; however, these methods should only be done under the supervision of your practitioner. Women with underlying health conditions...
After nine months of pregnancy, the much-anticipated delivery of the baby arrives. A woman and her doctor choose the type of delivery, with things like beliefs about childbirth and the health of mother and baby taken into account. Many pregnant...
Many pregnant women eagerly look for signs of their baby dropping, which is also called engagement or lightening, toward the end of the third trimester. Although the process of the baby dropping can vary greatly depending upon the individual woman...
Cesarean sections can be both scary and taxing on a mother's body, but in some cases they are the only option. C-sections are usually reserved for women who have physical problems that prevent them from giving birth naturally with a high chance of...
Toward the end of a pregnancy, many women feel a sensation called lightening, or the baby dropping into position to be born, according to the Giving Birth Naturally website. This generally happens two to four weeks before a pregnant mother goes...
Acupressure is entering the mainstream as one way to reduce the symptoms of pregnancy and the pain of labor. Acupressure works by stimulating your body to release endorphins and hormones. The release of these bodily chemicals can cause pain relief...
During pregnancy, your body will likely lose shape and tone, especially your abdomen. However, women who must undergo a Cesarean section, a surgical procedure to remove your baby through your abdomen rather than giving birth naturally through the...
Most home methods to induce labor will be ineffective if a woman's body is not yet ready for labor. Pregnant women can carry out methods to encourage cervical dilation once a pregnancy has reached at least 37 weeks, which is considered full term...
If you have pain in your sit bones after road biking, you most likely used a seat that doesn't fit your rear properly. The road bike seat you use needs to measure just wide enough to support your sit bones. If it doesn't, you'll experience pain...
Pumping breast milk while pregnant is important for women who rely on pumped milk to feed an older baby. While it might take some women several months or longer to regain full fertility and the ability to become pregnant again, some breastfeeding...
A pregnant woman past her due date is often desperate to find ways to start the labor process, so theories about what can jump start it are abundant. Some are scientific, while others are more spiritual. Which are based in fact, and which are...
Anticipating the start of labor can be exciting and frustrating, especially when the woman's estimated due date comes and goes. There are things a woman can attempt to help her body go into labor, but she should not try any such remedies without...
From walking, having sex, drinking castor oil and eating spicy food, there is a plethora of ways to induce labor. If you're full-term or overdue, ask your doctor if you can use natural methods to begin the labor process. One popular method is...
After you've given birth, your baby may experience a variety of newborn care procedures. These tests and procedures are done to ensure the health and well-being of your infant. Each state has a public-health policy that decides which procedures...
As their due dates approach, many pregnant women believe the baby is never going to arrive. Feeling big as a boat and plagued with heartburn, unable to find a comfortable position to sleep, they find themselves willing to try anything to encourage...
