Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
- Drugs for Inducing Labor are Dangerous
- Gentle Exercise (easiest way for inducing labor)
- Best Oil to Soften the Cervix
- Breast Pump (nipple stimulation)
- Best Herb for Inducing Labor
- Homeopathy for Labor Induction
- Visualization and Affirmation
- Acupressure for Inducing Labor
- Membrane Stripping
- Castor Oil (the nuclear approach)
When Mother Nature fails to begin the process of bringing a baby into the world in a timely fashion, inducing labor without the use of any pharmaceuticals is not only possible, it is preferable! I’ve written before about how I successfully used acupuncture to induce labor when my first child was nearly two weeks late.
No doubt this highly effective and frequently overlooked approach for rapidly inducing labor saved me from a mandatory C-section.
While acupuncture works very well for getting labor started, there are a number of more convenient methods for inducing labor to try first.
It is important to become well versed in the methods for inducing labor long before the due date arrives so that you are ready to use them at a moment’s notice if necessary. This is because Pitocin, the usual drug used by hospitals, has many dangerous side effects, and practitioners rarely if ever discuss them with you before hooking you up to that IV drip.
Drugs for Inducing Labor are Dangerous
It is well known that Pitocin induced labor contractions are much more painful than natural contractions and very few women are able to withstand them without an epidural.
The domino effect that typically occurs after a pregnant woman accepts some Pitocin “to nudge things along” is this:
Pitocin —> Epidural —> C-Section
It is imperative for women seeking a natural birth to avoid induction at all costs as Pitocin has the very real chance of putting your baby in distress ultimately increasing the risk of a C-section. The risks of Pitocin are many including uterine rupture and other serious complications (1):
Pitocin can cause a tumultuous, difficult labor and tetanic contractions, rupture of the uterus and dehiscence of a uterine scar, lacerations of the cervix, retained placenta, or postpartum hemorrhage. Postpartum perineal and pelvic floor pain is increased as a result of augmented uterine contractions. Fetal complications might include fetal asphyxia and neonatal hypoxia, physical injury, and neonatal jaundice. The use of Pitocin also might be a factor in cerebral palsy, due to oxygen deprivation, and autism in the child.
It is also important to note that if Pitocin is used to induce labor, the woman has immediately opted out of a natural birth experience before labor even begins. Many hospital nurses don’t remind women that this is the case. Natural birth by definition means birthing without drugs or surgery, so even if an epidural is avoided and a vaginal birth achieved, the birth was not entirely natural.
If you are of the view that avoiding Pitocin is not an option but a necessity below is a summary of some of the best ways to avoid it as recommended by the five midwives I was privileged to get to know and work with at the birth centers where my children were born.
Gentle Exercise (easiest way for inducing labor)
Walking is probably the easiest way to induce labor. Hopefully, you’ve been exercising sensibly for most of your pregnancy already. If so, you are fit and ready to roll for the incredible physical challenge that labor and delivery requires. My Mom used to say that having a baby was like running a marathon and was she ever right about that!
Nice long walks are a wonderful way to relieve stress, breathe fresh air, and get your cervix to dilate. Climbing stairs also is very effective and this combines walking along with the force of gravity working for you so that the baby is encouraged to drop more deeply into the birth canal. This gentle pressure on the cervix helps softening and dilation to progress and labor to initiate.
The squat used in many prenatal yoga classes is another simple labor and delivery exercise that puts gentle pressure on the cervix to encourage softening and dilation. It also stretches and strengthens the pelvic muscles and tendons for what is required during the birth process.
Swimming is also a wonderful and gentle approach to pre-labor exercise, but skip swimming in chlorinated pools as the exposure to gut and skin flora destroying toxins outweighs any possible benefit. Incidentally, I skipped the water birth for similar reasons. If you have a clean and natural body of water to swim in that is a comfortable temperature for the time of year you are having baby, that is the ideal scenario. Enjoy!
Best Oil to Soften the Cervix
Certain oils can help soften the cervix so that it can begin to dilate and the process of labor begins. My midwife suggested evening primrose oil (EPO) as the best for this purpose, an omega-6 essential fatty acid. It is important to note that evening primrose oil should not be used prior to a pregnant woman reaching full term. One study published in the journal Nurse-Midwifery found a potential association between pre-term oral EPO use and prolonged rupture of membranes, oxytocin augmentation, the arrest of descent, and vacuum extraction (2).
Once a woman is full-term, however, taking EPO capsules orally is the easiest approach for most women to facilitate cervical ripening. Some prenatal providers suggest placing a capsule inside the vagina instead so the oil has direct contact with the cervix.
While the use of evening primrose oil is widely used in natural birth settings, its effect and proper dosing to start labor is not well studied and the evidence still primarily anecdotal at this time (3).
Breast Pump (nipple stimulation)
One of the wonders of breastfeeding is that a nursing baby encourages the uterus (and belly!) to contract and slowly shrink back down to pre-pregnancy size. This is due to the hormones that are released when the nipples are stimulated.
The same thing happens before baby is born. Using a breast pump that you may have ready to use after baby is born can actually help you beforehand too. Fire it up and start using it when you are antsy for labor to begin as it will stimulate the nipples in a strong, continuous fashion that will get those hormones going in your favor. Manual stimulation is fine too but is not as effective as an electric breast pump.
As a bonus, you will already know how to use the breast pump after the baby is born when and if you need to pump those first bottles of breastmilk.
Best Herb for Inducing Labor
Blue Cohosh tincture is the very best herb for starting labor and is considered highly effective by many midwives. Note that the cervix must be soft and ripe for maximum effectiveness.
The dosage is 3-8 drops in a glass of warm water or tea (nettle or red raspberry is ideal). This should be repeated every 30 minutes for up to four hours until contractions are regular.
If labor has not been induced at the end of four hours, a full dropper of the tincture can be taken under the tongue every hour for up to four additional hours until contractions are strong and steady.
Another approach is to make an herbal infusion of blue cohosh and use it as a basic enema.
These recommendations are from herbalist Susun Weed, author of Wise Woman Herbal Childbearing Year.
Homeopathy for Labor Induction
An often overlooked method for labor induction is homeopathy!
Caulophyllum is considered a good labor initiator within this protocol. The dose can be repeated as often as every 30 minutes for two hours straight.
Visualization and Affirmation
Athletes are commonly taught to use visualization and affirmation to help achieve peak performance (4). Why shouldn’t pregnant women use it too?
Visualization is best used in conjunction with other labor inducing methods listed in this article and simply involves imagining that the uterus has begun contracting. Combining the visual experience with repetitive mental or written words that affirms the imagined process (“my uterus is contracting” or “labor will start very soon”) can strengthen the effect.
It is important that the visualization process not be experienced as stressful or forced. It should ideally be as natural and pleasant as possible, almost like daydreaming while resting in a comfortable position on a couch or chair.
Acupressure for Inducing Labor
If the idea of needles sticking out of your skin is not appealing to you, you can try acupressure instead of acupuncture to induce labor. There are several pressure points on the body that when pressure is applied and held with the fingers, can encourage the uterus to contract which sets off the start of labor.
One very easy to reach acupressure point that my midwife suggested was the webbing of the skin between the forefinger and thumb. Pressing and holding this acupressure point with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand can cause the uterus to contract. Be sure to never activate this or other labor pressure points prior to 37 weeks gestation, however. It is also advisable to receive instruction from an acupressure professional early in your pregnancy so you know what to do when the time comes.
This article contains more detailed information with demonstration videos about using acupressure to induce labor.
Membrane Stripping
When the cervix is very ripe but contractions still have not started, some prenatal providers will suggest what is called “stripping the membranes” to get labor going. This involves the nurse, doctor or midwife gently inserting the tip of a gloved finger inside the soft, open cervix to forcibly separate the amniotic sac from the uterine wall. This releases a rush of labor hormones.
The sensation is akin to ripping off a very large bandage – on steroids! While the procedure definitely hurts, it is fortunately over very quickly. Sometimes, cramping and spotting are experienced afterward.
Usually, labor will start within hours of this procedure being performed.
Castor Oil (the nuclear approach)
Although swallowing castor oil is considered the nuclear approach for starting labor when all else fails, research shows that it only works for about half of full-term pregnant women!
Castor oil is a laxative when taken internally. The most common recipe is 2 oz in orange juice followed by a hot shower. The same dose and shower are repeated within an hour or two with labor starting within 3-5 hours after the last dose – only if the cervix is ready. The castor oil does its work by inducing cramping and loose stools (sometimes severe diarrhea) which in turn instigates uterine contractions and the onset of labor.
Is it really worth the misery?
An alternative approach is to apply a castor oil compress directly to the belly and cover with a warm towel. If the cervix is ripe, this will work to get labor started without the uncomfortable side effects. Know that castor oil permanently stains so use flannel or towels that you will throw away later.
Be sure to consult with your practitioner as to the best approach for you to harness the benefits of castor oil to get labor started with no camping out in the bathroom required.
Did you use natural methods for inducing labor without drugs? If so, please share with us in the comments section what approach worked for you.
Natasha
I have been reading and hearing that eating dates for a month prior to the due date can help reduce the need for induction and can help make the process of dilation easier/quicker. I would love to know if you have herd about this or have any thoughts on it. I am 28 weeks and am delivering in a high rate of c section hospital with no midwifes in the community so looking to prepare my body as best I can before delivery.
Sarah
I have not seen any research on this. Do you have any links that provide more information?
Natasha
This is from the Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health: jmrh.mums.ac.ir/article_2772_0.html
Sarah
This link is not active. Is there another one?
Natasha
There is a link off of this website mamanatural.com/dates-during-pregnancy/
2nd paragraph under ‘according to this study’ where you can access the original article
Niclas
Very interesting Information,
could have used this 8 Months ago, maybe we will try those tips put with our next child;)
Great Post, keep up the good work!
Greetings from Germany
Carrie
my midwife suggested lots of “easy” intercourse, apparently semen has hormones in it that soften and relax the cervix.
Taryn
Thank you for your informative article Sarah. I am almost twenty-one weeks pregnant with my second child and will definitely remember these tips should I need to. You mentioned the use of evening primrose oil and I remember very well using these capsules with my first child. I inserted them in my vagina about a week prior to my due date as my midwife advised that and I had a great first birth; baby came five days before her due date (the date I visualised actually! 🙂 My mother also told me that extra vitamin C is vital for a swift and easier birth; she read that in a book by Adele D. Davis. I did (and do) take extra vitamin C too so I’m sure it helped (please note that the vitamin C I take is plant based, not ascorbic acid). Thanks for a wonderful website, your knowledge and gifts to the world are invaluable and are most appreciated.
Nancy Teas-Crain
I took castor oil and it was successful. I was overdue almost 2 weeks. The midwife suggested the castor oil. It was unpleasant to swallow, but I did not experience severe cramping. My labor started about 8 hours after taking the castor oil and my first child was born about 12 hours later at the Birth Center in Manhattan. I worked for me!
Sarah
Glad to hear your experience was good!
Melissa
I can speak to the breast pump working wonders! It was miraculous for me, really! In my last two pregnancies, my water broke and labor was still very sluggish hours and hours later. Used the hospital’s pump and it worked like a charm both times. Wow it was fast! If you do it, dont forget to save the colostrum for baby and also take care to protect your nipples while pumping – lower setting and maybe some lanolin -wouldn’t want to start your nursing experience with nipples already sore!
Sarah
Excellent tips! Thanks for sharing.
Kristine Jacobson
Wish I would have known this with my first birth over 16 years ago. Water broke and labor hadn’t progressed after 16 hrs with lots of exercise, squats…so they gave pitocin. Worst experience ever! Led to epidural put thankfully not c-section.
Carol
It is my understanding there is a limited supply of colostrum. So as not to deny the newborn, it should bs advised that the mother store what she pumps.
Sarah
This is a very important point … thank you for adding this!
Rachel
I’m not sure where this idea comes from but it’s not backed up by experience or research. Colostrum is made by the body starting around 16-22 weeks pregnant and will continue until the placenta is out, which within about 30-40 hours after the birth of the placenta will trigger the transition to mature milk (moving from all colostrum gradually to mature milk). Working with birthing women I’ve seen mothers pump large quantities of colostrum before birth, usually when using a breast pump to try to get things started. This doesn’t cause their mature milk to come in any sooner, they just happen to make large quantities of colostrum, which is wonderful for them and their babies.
Kate
My mom often told the story that her labor to deliver me (2 weeks “late”) iback in 1963 was induced by castor oil. I assume she took it orally. I had a good birth with no drugs.
David
What about sex. Isn’t that suppose to help induce labour?
Sarah
Yes … but I could not find any research to support it.
Marla
And clary sage essential oil!