Is stimulation of the nipple to trigger labor, is it really effective?

Your delivery time is near or maybe it has arrived but you haven't experienced any signs of labor? You may start looking for ways to induce labor naturally. With your doctor's approval, you can take a number of ways to help your body enter labor, such as rolling over or having sex with your partner. There is one technique that can be said to be the most effective: stimulating the nipple.

Why does stimulating the nipples trigger labor?

Caressing or playing with your nipples can stimulate the release of oxytocin from your body. Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a role in triggering labor and forming bonds between mother and child. This hormone also makes the uterus contract after childbirth, helping it to return to its pre-pregnancy size. Providing stimulation to the breasts can aid in labor by strengthening and prolonging contractions.

In one study, 390 pregnant women who wanted to give birth were randomly assigned to the following groups: nipple stimulation, uterine stimulation, and a control group (no special treatment). The results are very interesting. The women who were given nipple stimulation went into labor for a shorter duration. In addition, none of the women given nipple and uterine stimulation had to undergo surgery caesarean section.

On the other hand, many women in the control group required additional oxytocin to induce labor, and as many as 8% of these women had to give birth by caesarean section..

There are rules to stimulate the nipples to induce labor

Nipple stimulation to induce labor is only recommended in principle for normal delivery. Here are a few things you need to pay attention to:

For best results, you should simulate the baby's suction on your nipple as best you can. You can use your fingers or a breast pump to stimulate your breasts. If you have a baby who is breastfeeding, the child can provide good stimulation.
Not only the nipples, you also need to massage your areola part. The areola is the darker circle around the nipple, which wraps around the nipple. Gently rub your fingers or palms on the area of your areola.
Avoid over-stimulation by focusing on only one breast at a time. Limit stimulation to only 5 minutes, and wait 15 minutes before resuming stimulation. Pause for a moment to stimulate the nipples as they contract. If the contractions occur every 3 minutes or less and last for 1 minute or more, then you can stop the stimulation.
Always consult your doctor before doing nipple stimulation.

Is nipple stimulation safe to do at home?

A research survey asked 201 women whether they had ever tried to induce labor naturally at home. About half of the women answered that they had tried at least one type of natural labor induction method such as eating spicy food or having sex.

You should always consult with your doctor before having any induction of your pregnancy. This is because most of the induction methods that can be done at home usually do not have a clear scientific basis.

If your pregnancy is at high risk, nipple stimulation may be harmful to you. While nipple stimulation does have some solid scientific evidence, this method can also be dangerous in some women with a medical history.

When to go to the hospital near the time of delivery?

If you are ready for labor, you will feel your baby in the lower part of your pelvis, you will also experience regular contractions and experience discharge of the mucus blockage (mucus plug) that comes out of the vagina. In the early stages, the contractions may feel like dull pressure or a little discomfort. Begin to measure the duration of your contractions when you begin to feel them.

In the early stages, the contractions may alternate every 15-20 minutes and last for 60-90 seconds. The more you enter the active period, the contractions will be stronger and more frequent. The distance between contractions can be shortened to 3-4 minutes and last between 45-60 seconds.

If your water breaks before you have contractions, call your doctor immediately. You also need to tell your doctor if you experience any bleeding. If not, you can go to the doctor immediately if your contractions have been 5 minutes between contractions for more than 1 hour.