Three Proven Natural Labour Induction Methods
Chances are that if you’re reading this article, you’re late in your pregnancy or overdue, tired of being pregnant, or trying to beat a scheduled induction date! Natural labour induction methods are a great way to try and stimulate labour and ripen the cervix, especially if this means avoiding a medically induced induction or caesarian, should you not go into labour beforehand.
Check out one of the best natural labour induction methods. Click here.
Why hasn’t my baby come yet?
There are several reasons why your baby may not have arrived yet and this could be that your due date is inaccurate by a couple of weeks, you are feeling stressed and over anxious or you have a medical or health problem.
Get the all clear
It is important to get the all clear from your medical carer, especially if you have a pre- existing medical condition.
Be informed
It is important to make sure you are well informed before trying any natural method of self induction. Do your research because some treatments may not be suited to you as an individual.
Three natural labour induction methods
1. Acupuncture
2. Sweeping membranes
3. Acupressure
Acupuncture
Whilst some women have a fear of needles, it is true to say that the needles are so fine that there really is no pain involved. Acupuncture has been one of the natural labour induction methods used by women for thousands of years. There are mixed reports with acupuncture, some practitioners saying that one treatment is usually sufficient to induce labour with labour usually starting within 6-48 hours. Other studies show that acupuncture is most effective when the woman has been having treatments throughout her pregnancy in order to prepare the body for labour.
Sweeping membranes
Sweeping the membranes involves your medical carer gently separating the membranes from the cervix by means of a vaginal exam. This may be a little uncomfortable for some women and on the other hand, some have said they didn’t feel much at all. Some spotting or bleeding may occur as a result and some find they have irregular contractions after a sweep. However it has been shown to be quite effective as one of the natural labour induction methods. A sweep will usually only be performed on women who are at term and have no other complications, e.g. placenta praevia.
Acupressure
Acupressure is growing in popularity and is effective for pregnancy, labour and post birth, with solutions for all sorts of situations, from inducing labour to curbing sickness and feelings of nausea during pregnancy. It works on much the same philosophy as acupuncture, the main difference being that thumbs and fingertips are used instead of needles. Acupressure is one of the best natural labour induction methods because it is easy to learn and a woman can apply it to herself or, if she prefers, get assistance from her birthing partner. It is perfectly safe to use and there are no side effects that could cause potential damage to the unborn baby.
Click here for your step by step guide to maternity acupressure
As with all natural labour induction methods, not every woman will experience success. Some methods work for some and not for others and sometimes, no matter what a woman tries, if her baby is not ready to be born then quite simply, nothing will do the trick and she will just have to wait.
