Table of contents:
- Can labor induction be done naturally?
- What are the natural labor induction methods?
- 1. Have sex
- 2. Nipple stimulation
- 3. On foot
- 4. Acupuncture
- 5. Acupressure
- 6. Membrane stripping
- 7. Birth ball
- Is it safe to induce labor naturally?
Sometimes the labor process can be hampered, so pregnant women are advised to undergo induction. Various methods of induction are also emerging, both medicinally using drugs and naturally. Is natural labor induction safe and effective for rapid opening? The following is the review.
x
Can labor induction be done naturally?
Labor induction is done to stimulate the production of the hormone oxytocin to trigger uterine contractions or openings.
The faster the contractions progress, the more open the birth canal will be and speed up the labor process.
In other words, induction is a means or tips to speed up labor so that the original contractions and rapid opening appear.
So far, there are many things that are believed to be a way to stimulate contractions so that the baby is born quickly in any type of labor.
Various types of delivery include normal delivery, cesarean section,water birth, gentle birth, andhypnobirthing.
However, not all tips or how to fish or to get the original contraction fast have been scientifically proven safe.
Walking, having sex, nipple stimulation, and eating food to give birth quickly are some of the ways that are believed to be natural inductions to give birth quickly.
Many mothers end up using this method because they believe in its usefulness.
However, again, mothers need to know how to provoke contractions or induction of natural labor which is safe and not.
What are the natural labor induction methods?
As mentioned earlier, the usual natural labor induction may not be scientifically proven.
Even so, you can do it before labor preparation as long as you consult your doctor first.
The following is a natural induction method to quickly experience original contractions and childbirth which is generally done:
1. Have sex
Many women who routinely have sex during late pregnancy as a natural induction in the hope that contractions will come sooner.
This is because male semen contains prostaglandin hormones which can help soften and open the cervix for rapid opening.
Natural labor induction by means of sex during pregnancycan be done as long as the mother does not have a pregnancy problem.
Therefore, do not make sex during pregnancy a mandatory reference to stimulate labor naturally.
The reason is, not all pregnant women are allowed to have sex close to the day of delivery.
This is especially true if you have already had membranes rupture, are bleeding, or are at risk of having a premature baby.
How to speed up or provoke contractions by having sex is certainly not safe enough because it will actually be dangerous.
In addition, it should be remembered that the chance of contractions from intercourse has never been proven by sufficiently representative medical research.
So, having sex as a natural way of induction to speed up labor or delivery has not actually been proven.
However, mothers can still do it as long as they have a healthy pregnancy condition and have been recommended by a doctor.
2. Nipple stimulation
Launching from the American Pregnancy Association page, nipple stimulation is one of several ways to induce natural labor.
The method of stimulating or inducing contractions to quickly give birth with nipple stimulation can be done manually using an electric pump or hand.
The hormone oxytocin in the mother's body can naturally stimulate contractions.
This natural labor induction method with nipple stimulation is not much different from that of a newborn breastfeeding or early initiation of breastfeeding (IMD).
The difference is, when a new baby is born, the process of breastfeeding the baby can stimulate contractions so that it slows down the occurrence of bleeding.
3. On foot
Mothers who diligently walk during pregnancy are said to tend to experience labor contractions more quickly.
Unfortunately, many doctors are not completely sure about the link between walking and natural labor induction.
The effect of walking is felt when pregnant women have started to experience contractions, not as a way to stimulate contractions so that the baby is born quickly.
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.
However, pay attention to your body's abilities not to get tired. Save energy in preparation for childbirth.
4. Acupuncture
Some of the natural labor inductions that have been circulating are quite proven, some are not.
However, there are still several alternative ways of inducing labor that are thought to stimulate the original contraction and opening, for example acupuncture.
Acupuncture is done by inserting needles into several specific points on the body.
This method is believed to increase the production of oxytocin, trigger the movement of the baby's head, and stimulate the readiness of the uterus for labor.
However, according to the NIH National Library of Medicine, research shows that acupuncture has not been shown to be effective as a natural labor induction method.
The success of acupuncture also depends on the readiness of the fetus for birth.
5. Acupressure
Acupressure may not be as popular as acupuncture. However, acupressure has similar principles to acupuncture.
These two ways that might be considered safer as natural labor induction both put pressure on certain parts of the body to reduce pain.
It's just that acupressure uses finger pressure, not with needles like acupuncture.
Acupressure practitioners use special tools or the tips of their fingers to apply pressure to specific points.
This point is usually found in the gap between your thumb and forefinger.
However, it needs to be underlined, just like acupuncture, acupressure has not been proven to be a natural labor induction method.
Some pregnant women also do not experience any effects after undergoing acupressure.
Even so, acupressure is quite useful for reducing pain before childbirth.
If you are planning to do acupressure as a natural induction, it is imperative that you consult and get approval from your doctor first.
You can then contact a licensed therapist to do the acupressure technique correctly and safely.
6. Membrane stripping
Membrane stripping done directly by the doctor, but this method is classified as natural labor induction because it does not use drugs.
The doctor will wear gloves and then insert his finger into the vagina to separate the amniotic sac.
This will trigger the release of prostaglandins that stimulate labor. However, there is a risk of side effectsmembrane strippingin the form of pain and the appearance of blood spots.
So, make sure you have consulted your doctor first before choosing this method.
7. Birth ball
The birth ball is a fairly large ball with a shape that resembles a gym ball.
You don't have to worry because of thatbirth ballhas been specially designed so that it is not slippery when used on the floor so it is safe for pregnant women.
Birth ball considered to be a natural induction as a way to speed up and provoke contractions before childbirth.
Not only as a natural induction, benefitbirth ball for pregnant women and childbirth also helps reduce back pain and childbirth.
The discomfort you feel as a result of contractions can also be reduced due to regular usebirth ball during pregnancy and near delivery.
Interestingly again,birth ball can help pregnant women feel more relaxed and reduce anxiety before childbirth.
Is it safe to induce labor naturally?
Indeed, not all natural labor induction methods have been proven to be effective.
However, quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, natural induction methods may be an alternative option if your pregnancy conditions are as follows:
- Gestational age has entered 37 weeks or more.
- Doctors allow natural labor induction as directed.
- The position of the baby's head is already under or in the birth canal.
- Mother and baby are healthy or have no pregnancy complications.
If you want to do this, you also need to get a doctor's approval before undergoing natural labor induction, as this method has not been scientifically proven.
In fact, the only method of induction that is safe and reliable to trigger labor is the drug that doctors give when a pregnant woman gives birth in a hospital.
Doctors generally will consider providing medical labor induction according to the health condition of you and the baby in the womb.
Medical labor induction for quick opening is not arbitrary for all pregnant women who are about to give birth.
The reason is because each pregnant woman who will give birth has a health condition that is not always the same.
That is why, the handling of ways to stimulate contractions so that the baby is born quickly for each condition of pregnant women can also be different.
Medical labor induction is usually not intended for pregnant women who have had a caesarean section with a vertical incision.
Then, giving medical birth induction also does not apply to pregnant women who experience a condition where the placenta blocks the cervix (placenta previa).