So you’re tired of being pregnant huh? Like most pregnant women, you may have reached a point in your pregnancy where you are hot, irritated, uncomfortable, tired of gaining weight and suffering from insomnia. You may have asked your doctor to induce labor, and of course depending on how far along you are, the probably answered with a big fat no! Usually women start experiencing these stressors around 35 weeks and sadly that’s too early for induction. If you are anything like me, you have probably looked up all kinds of ways to “safely/naturally” induce your own labor. Here are some of the labor induction practices and if they work or not.
First things first, doing jumping jacks. Well, I guess with this one people suppose if you bounce up and down doing jumping jacks that the baby will be putting pressure on the cervix which will in turn break your water and you will go into labor. Well ladies, I wish that were true. From personal experience I don’t think jumping jacks is the answer if you’re looking to deliver soon. One night I thought, I will just do some jumping jacks and then my water will break. I must have done about 6 sets of 20 jumping jacks. The verdict: no baby that night.
The next thing women swear by when it comes to inducing labor is walking, walking and more walking. This is also what the nurse will have you do in the hospital if you are not ready yet. Walking is said to open up the pelvis and help the baby descend down into position to come out. How does this way of inducing labor check out? Well lets just say if baby isn’t ready, then at least you’re getting some great exercise. It takes a whole lot of walking to get the baby down if they are high up in the pelvis.
Evening Primrose Oil is said to work very well and is recommended by midwives to their patients. You get it at your local health food store in gel capsule form. Each night at bedtime you insert 3 capsules as far back into the vagina so that they are near the cervix. After inserting them you are instructed to lie down for at least 30 minutes as this can get messy if you get up right away. The oil in the capsule is a ripening agent and helps to thin out the cervix. Does it work? From personal experience I would say yes! I used Evening Primrose Oil capsules with my first daughter, I began taking them about a week before I went into labor. How long it takes to thin out the cervix really depends and varies from woman to woman.
The big one, having sex. This sometimes works for some women and does not for others. The male sperm contains hormones called prostaglandin which can be effective in ripening the cervix, but as with walking you may have to have sex a few times a day everyday. For some pregnant women this is no problem, as for others pregnancy sometimes decreases the desire for sex. Does this method work? I give it 3 out of 5- yes!
Nipple stimulation works, only if done properly. It is also another one of those that could take forever to do anything. Midwives also suggest this to their patients.
Last but not least the Castor Oil induction. Many older women swear by this and others say no way! Usually with this one there is no in between women either hate it or love it. You mix 2 oz. of castor oil into 8 oz. of orange juice, or your favorite drink and chug. It is said that with in hours or days labor should start. There are mixed reviews about Castor Oil for inducing labor. I personally have done this with both my daughters. With my first daughter I mixed the castor oil with a coke. I drank it down very fast thru a straw since the castor oil is super thick. After a few hours nothing happened so I did it a second time. Roughly 3 hours later I had to use the restroom and was stuck there for about 2 hours. When I was finally able to get up, I started having very mild contractions. About an hour later they had not tapered off so I went to the hospital around 12am and had my daughter at 2:43pm. With my second daughter I mixed the castor oil with some apple juice, again nothing happened so I did it a second time about 6 hours later. Same as before I was stuck in the bathroom for a while. But still nothing, no contractions, just the braxton hicks I had been experiencing for practically a month before so I thought. After non stop irregular contractions, I went to the hospital and was there all night. Nurses tried to stop the contractions but nope, My daughter made her way into the world. So overall I don’t know really if I had not taken the castor oil would I have had my babies then or not, but I will say with a two time success Castor Oil induction works!
Just a note, please discuss any induction with your doctor or midwife, and DO NOT induce labor before 38 weeks of pregnancy as your baby may not be mature enough to be born.
