Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/869597
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) EPO has been used extensively by midwives to help "ripen" the cervix when taken in doses of about 1500 mg orally and the oil of several opened gel caps also applied directly to the cervix for up to a week prior to when you hope to go into labor. Overall studies are very limited. In one report, women taking oral evening primrose oil had, on average, a labor lasting 3 hours longer than women who did not ingest evening primrose oil. Nothing should be inserted into the vagina if your water has broken. Castor oil There is little formal data on the effectiveness of castor oil to induce labor, but many women who try it report it to be very effective. Unfortunately, it causes terrible diarrhea that may lead to anal burning and irritation during labor. If you use it and get loose stools, make sure to replace your fluids and electrolytes. I have, actually, used the warmed oil topically on the belly as a massage oil and it may have been helpful in stimulating some labors – but I've never used it without also using nipple stimulation and some herbs. Acupuncture Acupuncture has been used to help ripen the cervix and induce labor. A Cochrane Collaboration review of 14 trials reporting data on over 2220 women randomized to receive acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture or usual care. Most trials were from Western countries; two were from Asia. The data wasn't too impressive but there was a great deal of inconsistency in the points that were used, the sizes of the studies, and other parameters that make it hard to fully interpret the data. It is a harmless method if clean needles and proper techniques are used. Acupressure Acupressure is the application of pressure usually using the fingertips, in place of needles, on acupuncture points. The accompanying diagram illustrates the points typically used. Firm pressure is applied for several minutes, repeated several times daily. There is no evidence that these points used alone actually get labor going. In my experience it takes more than this to put a mom into labor! Sex Human sperm contains a high amount of prostaglandin, a hormone-like substance that ripens the cervix and helps labor to start and it has been suggested that sexual intercourse may be an effective means. There isn't enough evidence to show whether it really is effective or how it compares with other methods, but if your water isn't broken, and you want to give it a try – no harm, no foul. Most midwives recommend three times per day to maximize the chance that it will work! Spicy Foods There is absolutely no evidence that spicy foods can trigger labor and since they can cause heartburn in late pregnancy, they might not be the best option… The nexT Dimension There's a lot more to labor and birth than meets the eye or that always has an obvious physical or medical solution. Our emotions and beliefs have a tremendous impact on our experience. We can't necessarily account for the mystery, but we can do something about our emotions, especially fear, about labor and birth. Animals in nature don't go into labor when they are frightened. In fact, labor will stop, if a mammal is threatened by a predator. Adrenaline inhibits oxytocin which helps to stimulate and sustain contractions. Sometimes we go overdue because our bodies or babies are just not ready for birth yet and need a little more time in the oven. Sometimes fears might be holding us back. If you are overdue and being pressured by someone to go into labor, aside from asking them to back off a bit, it's a good time to dig deep for any skeletons in the closet. I've "met" all kinds of skeletons in my practice: the grandmother who died in childbirth, the mother and three sisters who never went into labor and all needed cesareans, the mother or best friend who has been giving you a hard time for planning a home birth. Get centered and clear out everyone else's baggage and your family history baggage and see if this helps. Having a heart to heart with baby is another "next dimension" idea. One of my dear friends was quite overdue with her first baby. She was planning a homebirth but the screws had been on about a hospital induction. A nurse on L&D at that hospital herself, really preferred to have her baby at home but, of course, was willing to do what she needed for her baby's best interest. One evening she wrote a flowing letter to her baby, telling her that she'd do whatever was needed for her safe Page 30 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysHealthAndNutrition.com