Inducing Labor

If you are full term and you still haven’t started labor yet, you may be getting tired and anxious about delivery. The weight of the baby and the emotional ups and downs that you experience during pregnancy are starting to make you feel weary. You probably wish labor would begin so that you can go on with your life.

Unfortunately labor doesn’t always start for some people without an induction. You may get a lot of advice like "traveling on a bumpy road will break your water," but you need to talk to your doctor first before trying to induce labor yourself.

If he sees fit, your doctor may choose to speed up the progress of your pregnancy by inducing labor. There are several reasons a doctor would choose to induce labor rather than have you wait. Sometimes inducing labor is necessary if you are overdue. There may also complications like the baby not moving enough or showing signs of being stressed.

Another circumstance that may require inducing labor is if you develop high blood pressure or another urgent condition it may not be safe for you to carry your baby any longer.

What ever the reason is for inducing labor, it's natural to feel unprepared and a little worried about it. You may become anxious, nervous and scared because you fear the outcome. Your doctor will go over everything with you and ensure that you understand exactly what is going on if they are going to do. If you have questions, just ask them.

Ways of Inducing Labor

There are several ways of inducing labor, including some natural ways. The first way would be to artificially rupture the membranes. Your doctor will admit you into the hospital so he or she can monitor your progress. You will be given medication intravenously. They will rupture the membrane to advance your labor. Once labor starts it can usually continue without any trouble.

Sex is great for inducing labor. The reason for this is that having an orgasm may cause your uterus to start contracting which will start labor. Also sperm contains prostaglandins which can thin the uterus.

Nipple stimulation is another natural way of inducing labor. When your nipples are stimulated through touch it causes the uterus to contract. You may try a breast pump to stimulate the nipples. If this becomes too painful, stop immediately.

Walking is another great way to speed up labor. When you are walking around, the weight of the baby can put a lot of pressure on your cervix, causing it to contract. Your body will take this as a sign to begin labor. Walking also makes labor easier on you.

Having a bowel movement may be another way of inducing labor. Having a bowel movement can stimulate the uterus and cause contractions. You can buy an enema kit over the counter for this purpose.

All of these methods are still not a guarantee that labor will begin. Don’t try any of these methods if you are alone. If labor starts and the pain gets too intense you may not be able to get help. Have someone with you to drive you to the hospital once labor has been successfully started.