Natural Means for Induction

1. Sex
Sex is a commonly suggested method of natural induction due to semen containing prostaglandins – which help to ripen the cervix. Recently a study has found that intercourse made little difference to inducing labour and no cervical changes were evident. Personally I wouldn’t expect any changes to happen when you know you are part of a study and I don’t think I would find it very relaxing to know that I was to have sex, then report in for an internal! Our bodies are very sensitive to hormones and just like our blood pressure can shoot up when we go to see the doctor, labour can also be inhibited, stall, stop and even go backwards when we enter a hospital or somewhere unfamiliar or if we are feeling nervous or anxious.
The study also cited an analysis of 59 studies that found no association between sex and pre-term birth, pre-mature rupture of the membranes (PROM), or low birth weight in low-risk pregnancies, so rest assured it is safe to have sex throughout pregnancy unless you are high-risk or your doctor has recommended otherwise.
However, sex can a great way to relax, and contrary to the study, many mothers have found that they have gone into labour after having sex, especially during early labour – they found things to step up a notch. Even Ina May Gaskin, a long time natural and home-birthing advocate doesn’t think too much of this study as she has seen otherwise.
Another common method of natural induction, the female orgasm, may be more useful – I wonder if there will be any complaints about that one?!
When a woman experiences orgasm, she produces oxytocin – the labour hormone. So while having intercourse seems to not be of much help, it can still play a role in the bigger scheme of things!
2. Acupuncture
From one who has a fear of needles but dared to try acupuncture (and never even flinched during the process!), I would say to those who are considering acupuncture but are afraid of needles to definitely give it a go. The needles are very fine, you really don’t feel a thing – but I know it’s hard to imagine needles not hurting!
Acupuncture has been used very successfully for thousands of years to induce women who are over-due in their pregnancy.
Andrew Orr, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner in Queensland, specialises in fertility, pregnancy and gynaecology. He has researched his findings extensively and had them published in several leading medical journals. He says, “Most of the time one treatment is all that is needed to get the process going. Sometimes a second treatment may be needed. Through continual research, we have found that induction using acupuncture generally works within 6-48 hours of having your treatment.”
There have been some studies on acupuncture and it’s effect on inducing labour – see an Australian research report here which showed that using acupuncture to stimulate labour in overdue mothers to be had a success rate of 88%.
Although acupuncture has been, and still is, a very useful tool for induction, Andrew admits that acupuncture isn’t effective 100% of the time. “Sometimes it just doesn’t work effectively enough. As they say in China: ‘When the fruit is ready, it will fall off the vine’. Sometimes this saying applies to pregnancy.”
Andrew says his 88% success rate with induction using acupuncture is mainly due to clients receiving regular treatment throughout their pregnancy and specialised expertise in this field. Andrew says that such fine tuning allows them a much easier and pain reduced birth, as well as making it easier for them when it comes to induction.
To be eligible for induction acupuncture you must be at your estimated due date or after, unless otherwise recommended by your doctor or midwife. Whilst there is no risk from having acupuncture for induction, it does help speed up your natural processes. Therefore you must consult with your doctor or midwife before any induction. This is to protect all persons involved, most of all your baby.
Check out the BellyBelly directory for acupuncture and Chinese medicine professionals listed by state.
3. Acupressure
Debra Betts has put together a brilliant document on acupressure for pregnancy, labour and post birth, with solutions for all sorts of situations, from encouraging labour to vomiting and nausea in labour. You can download a copy here and if you see a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, they can show your partner how to apply acupressure as well as treat you at the same time with a variety of great techniques which TCM practitioners use.
4. Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
Evening Primrose Oil is another ‘cervix ripening’ method. EPO helps by imitating prostaglandin can be used orally and/or internally.
A usual oral dosage is 2-3 of 500mg capsules daily from 36 weeks. If you are taking EPO internally, you can do this from 36 weeks – simply insert 2-3 capsules directly to the cervix before bed. You might like to wear a pad or liner as it can get messy when you get up.
5. Homeopathics
There are some homeopathic remedies available to help encourage labour, however you will need to consult a qualified homeopath for more information on dosages.
6. Nipple Stimulation
Nipple stimulation produces oxytocin and can produce some strong effects, so you can try stimulating your nipples (including your areola, as a baby would when sucking) with your fingers, massaging one at a time. An alternate option is if you are still feeding a toddler, let him attach and the sucking action will do the same thing.
Massage the first nipple for 5 minutes (when there are no contractions), then wait to see what happens (around 15 mins or so) before doing more. It’s a good idea to take your mind off things by getting on with your usual duties than sitting and waiting for something to happen – so try and keep busy!
Once labour is well established again, stop the stimulation. For more information, see our nipple stimulation article.

7. Pineapple

Enzymes found in pineapple are said to help ripen the cervix, which can bring on labor. It may also give you wicked heartburn!

8. Sweeping Membranes / Stretch & Sweep

Sweeping the membranes involves your medical carer separating the membranes from the cervix by 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, which may be uncomfortable and still not progress into labour.

A sweep can be performed on women who are at term and have no other complications, e.g. placenta praevia.

Ideally though this method is more of a last resort of all of these methods, as it is invasive and not really natural. You also give bacteria the opportunity to grow when you have things unnecessarily inserted into your vagina, right up to your cervix.

9. Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh is a herb used to encourage contractions and facilitate labour. It should be avoided in pregnancy and is better taken in early labour. Please consult a naturopath before taking Black Cohosh as the wrong dose may cause problems.

10. Raspberry Leaf

Raspberry Leaf is a uterine tonic, which also has added benefits after the birth for breastmilk production.

Some women like Raspberry Leaf tea, however if you don’t like the taste or want a specific, stronger dose, you might like to buy some from your health food store. It’s generally recommended anytime after 12 weeks in a healthy pregnancy – make sure you check with your medical carer and a naturopath for doses and to see if it’s appropriate for you.

11. Spicy Food / Curry

Again, spicy food and curry gives some people the runs, so another one to think twice about if this is you! But some people swear by it for getting their labour started.

12. Induction Massage

As with induction acupuncture, induction massage can be given on or after your due date. The massage therapists (who should be experienced in induction massage) work on acupressure points which are normally avoided during pregnancy, which can trigger labour. As with normal massage, induction massage helps to relax and calm your body, easing tension and helping to create a clear and grounded space. The therapists also may use essential oils which can assist with labour induction. It’s generally a very successful form of labour induction if the body/baby is ready and the mother is willing.

13. Eat Date Fruit!

Yes, and this one has a recent study behind it. According to this study on ‘the effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery’:

“We set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labour parameters and delivery outcomes… 69 women consumed six date fruits per day for 4 weeks prior to their estimated date of delivery, compared with 45 women who consumed none… The women who consumed date fruit:

• Had significantly higher mean cervical dilatation upon admission compared with the non-date fruit consumers (3.52 cm vs 2.02 cm, p < 0.0005)
• Had a significantly higher proportion of intact membranes (83% vs 60%, p = 0.007).
• Spontaneous labour occurred in 96% of those who consumed dates, compared with 79% women in the non-date fruit consumers (p = 0.024).
• Use of prostin/oxytocin (for inducing/augmenting labour) was significantly lower in women who consumed dates (28%), compared with the non-date fruit consumers (47%) (p = 0.036).
• The mean latent phase of the first stage of labour was shorter in women who consumed date fruit compared with the non-date fruit consumers (510 min vs 906 min, p = 0.044).

It is concluded that the consumption of date fruit in the last 4 weeks before labour significantly reduced the need for induction and augmentation of labour, and produced a more favourable, but non-significant, delivery outcome. The results warrant a randomised controlled trial.”

Other things to remember

If you are in early labour or trying to get things moving, remember these things:

• Rest at night as best you can. Use the day to get things moving, but don’t exhaust all your energy in early labour – it’s like sprinting in the first 5 kilometres of a marathon. You have a long way to go, and more energy will be required in the latter stages. Being exhausted later makes the seduction of pain relief or intervention stronger and more likely.
• Walk – especially through contractions – it’s the best thing you can do!
• Stairs – climbing stairs is a great way to get things going and to help get that baby down and into a good position.
• Avoid the bath or swimming – it counteracts gravity. Jump in the shower instead and if you need to sit down on a chair in a shower that’s okay. If it’s comfortable to do so, sit on the chair backwards as it will encourage baby into a better position if you can get your hips higher than your knees.
• Keep upright where possible – make use of gravity. When the uterus contracts, it contracts forwards, so lean into them, bend the knees and have your knees apart. Don’t lean forward so much that gravity wont help – about a 45 degree angle is good.
• Keep yourself busy – find yourself a project to do to distract yourself to help with the anticipation. Sort your recipes in an album, store photos, have lunch / dinner with friends or family, do scrapbooking – anything to keep your mind off going into labour or it can drive you mad!

MOST IMPORTANTLY REMEMBER! That baby will come when he is ready – sometimes no matter what you will to happen, baby will not come when we would most like it! The greatest gift you can give your baby right now is the gift of choosing his own birthdate, should the both of you be healthy.