| Are the natural ways to induce labor really safe? | | | | get to that one later. |
| Some are - So let's have a look and see if we | | | | Let's start with some easy ones: |
| can get this baby moving! | | | | Self inducing labour |
| A lot of mums know how you feel! You get to | | | | - Walking, and no - you are not competing in the |
| 40 weeks... Your due date, and you wait with | | | | marathon. Just a nice steady walk. |
| fingers crossed and baited breath, and still nothing. | | | | - Spicy food. As hot as you can manage, but |
| An appointment with your midwife reveals no real | | | | watch out for heartburn and diarrhoea after this |
| activity, your baby is happy inside, and has no | | | | one! |
| intention of coming out, whether you like it or not! | | | | - Sex... Oh yes ladies! This may be the last thing |
| Most midwives won't recommend induction until | | | | that you fancy, but the Oxytocin released from |
| 42 weeks, but that really doesn't help you at all. | | | | having sex can help to contract your uterus. |
| And when you are ready for medical intervention, | | | | Prostaglandins found in sperm can also help by |
| it's really not that pretty! You could have | | | | softening the cervix ready for labor. |
| membrane sweep, where your midwife will sweep | | | | I think most women may have already heard of |
| her finger over your cervix. Your midwife or | | | | the above tips, but here are some you may not |
| consultant may break your waters (out comes | | | | have heard of. You should also check with your |
| the huge crochet hook) This method can cause | | | | midwife before trying these next methods. |
| your labor to be particularly painful. You may be | | | | - Nipple stimulation, You have to simulate the |
| given a drip or a pessary to try and stimulate | | | | suckling motion of a baby. This has to be carried |
| labor. | | | | out for quite a while, not a quick 5 minute fix! This |
| I'm sure you would much rather get labor started | | | | method can cause very strong contractions and |
| yourself! | | | | should be used with care. |
| You feel bulky, slow and sluggish. You have a | | | | - Red raspberry leaf tea. This is believed to |
| constant need to pee, you can't get comfy to | | | | stimulate the uterus, and should not be used until |
| get a decent nights sleep. Even walking down the | | | | the last 3 months of pregnancy. |
| stairs in the morning is about as much as you can | | | | - Black Cohosh, a herb believed to kick start labor. |
| manage for the whole day! Above all you just | | | | Although no concrete evidence that this works. |
| want your baby out! Not that you haven't | | | | Do check with your medical practitioner first. |
| enjoyed the last 9 months. But your body is | | | | - Homoeopathy, you should contact a qualified |
| exactly that... Yours! And after sharing it for 40 | | | | specialist if you decide to try this method. |
| weeks, you need a rest. | | | | So you have now armed yourself with a few |
| So what can you try to get things moving, what | | | | things to try. The one that you should definitely |
| natural ways are there of self inducing labor? | | | | avoid is... |
| Some are highly recommended, others are murky | | | | Castor oil - Although some women will swear that |
| waters that not many women will really want to | | | | this will induce labor, it will more than likely make |
| try. One method is having rave results (We'll save | | | | you vomit and cause a bad case of diarrhoea. |
| that one till last!) And looking at the other side of | | | | This in turn can cause dehydration - A very bad |
| the coin, one method in particular you would have | | | | thing to happen if you are pregnant. Basic advice, |
| to be mad to try (never mind desperate) We'll | | | | give this one a miss! |