5 Myths of natural induction of labor that turned out to be false

Every pregnant woman wants her delivery to run smoothly. But sometimes, there are some things that make the labor process stuck or delayed so that the mother needs to receive a good induction naturally. However, did you know that some of the natural labor induction methods suggested by hereditary are actually not effective at speeding up labor?

Various labor induction myths have turned out to be false

Labor induction is done to stimulate the production of the hormone oxytocin to trigger uterine contractions. The faster the contractions progress, the more open the birth canal will be and speed up the labor process.

So far, there are many things that are believed to help speed up labor induction, but it turns out to be just a myth. Here are the labor induction myths that you don't need to believe anymore from now on.

1. Have sex

Many women who routinely have sex during late pregnancy with the hope that contractions will come sooner. This is because male semen contains prostaglandin hormones which can help soften and open the cervix, thereby accelerating the opening.

On the other hand, several other doctors actually revealed that this is a labor induction myth that should not be used as a reference. First, because not all pregnant women are allowed to have sex close to the day of delivery. This is especially true if you have already had ruptured membranes, bleeding, or are at risk of preterm labor.

In addition, the chances of successful uterine contractions from intercourse have never been proven by sufficiently representative medical research.

2. Nipple stimulation

An obstetrician from UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, Aldo Palmieri, M.D, revealed that nipple stimulation should not be done at home as a natural induction.

The way to stimulate the nipple which tends to be the same as when the baby sucks the nipple can cause excessive release of the hormone oxytocin. This can lead to excessive and potentially unsafe contractions for both mother and baby.

In addition to triggering excessive contractions, the baby in the womb can be stressed, marked by a slow heart rate. Again, don't do this without consulting your doctor first.

3. Castor oil

Without realizing it, there are still many pregnant women who believe in this one labor induction myth. According to a recent study published in the journal Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine in 2018, pregnant women who drink castor oil or castor oiltend to experience contractions faster and go into labor within the next 24 hours.

Unfortunately, until now there are no specific rules on how much castor oil should be consumed to speed up labor. If not done carefully, drinking too much castor oil can actually trigger stronger contractions.

Instead of having a beneficial effect, blood flow to the baby actually decreases. As a result, the baby in the womb is deprived of oxygen and it can be fatal if not treated quickly.

4. Eat pineapples

This one labor induction myth is of course very common to you. He said, eating pineapple during pregnancy can trigger uterine contractions and make the mother give birth quickly.

Pineapple does contain the enzyme bromelain which can help to flex the cervix so that it can trigger childbirth. Unfortunately, these contractions will not be fast if you only eat one pineapple.

Yes, one pineapple contains very little bromelain enzyme. So eating a plate of fresh pineapple alone will not have much of an effect on the appearance of contractions. However, this does not mean you can eat too much pineapple because it will actually trigger diarrhea.

5. On foot

A study from the Journal of Perinatal Education in 2014 revealed that as many as 32 women who diligently walked during pregnancy tended to experience contractions more quickly before delivery. Unfortunately, many doctors are not completely sure about the link between walking and labor induction.

The effect of walking is easier to feel when pregnant women have started to experience contractions, not to stimulate contractions. The reason is, the movement of the hips when walking can help position the baby's head towards the pelvis so that the opening runs quickly.

But remember, pay attention to your body's abilities not to get tired. Save your energy in preparation for childbirth.

In fact, the only safe and reliable method of induction to induce labor is by medication given in the hospital.