The Deal with Induction

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The end of pregnancy can seem to drag on forever. When you feel as big as a house and it seems like everyone is asking "Where's the baby?!" you might think that asking your midwife or doctor to induce you is a dandy idea. Or you may be in the opposite boat edging towards 42 weeks with your practitioner pestering you to come in so he can help 'get things moving' and you're looking for natural ways to loosen your self up to avoid a pitocin drip. Well, whatever your situation it is important to have as much information as you can before attempting to "help" your labor start. 


It is vital to understand that we (doctors, midwives, researches, and all human beings really) have no idea what causes natural labor to start. We know what hormones cause contractions, but not why they surge to high enough levels to bring them on. Full term gestation can be anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks, depending on the length of the woman's cycle, the baby, and other totally unknown factors. Jumping the gun on birth can do two things: cause your baby to be born prematurely (Did you know that babies born early have the highest rates of infant mortality?) and/or force you into an unnecessary c-section. Of course, "there are legitimate medical reasons for induction", writes midwife Ina May Gaskin, "These include cancer, hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, a small-for-dates baby, a decrease in amniotic fluid or an intrauterine death" (Ina May's Guide to Childbirth). 


Induction because of a suspected large baby or for convenience (you or your doctors) are not legitimate medical reasons. Here's why: ultrasound technology cannot accurately predict the size of a baby in utero therefore (and the medical research supports this) macrosomia or large baby cannot be diagnosed prior to delivery. The same is true for guessing at baby's gestational age. If a doctor tells you he thinks your baby won't fit through your pelvis and does not have a medical (as in your hips were deformed by rickets) reason it is time to call his bluff or look for a new provider. Always ask "Why?".  An increasing amount of research is supporting the need to wait for labor to start on its own for the safety of baby and mother, and your practitioner should be familiar with it. Check out the March of Dimes page for even more details. 


Another common reason given for wanting to induce labor is a "late baby". There are a variety of reasons to avoid induction for a late baby the primary being that unless your cycle is as predictable as a German train and/or you know the day you conceived it is likely that your "due date" is in fact a "due guesstimate" with a 2 week window in either direction. In fact, various resources site that less than 5% of babies are actually born on their due date. And first time mothers are on average likely to go at least 8 days past their estimated due date! 



With all of this new knowledge on your side, you may be saying "Yeah, but the hospital/my OB/partner is telling me to go in for an induction, what can I do to avoid it?". Well, ladies I'm going to let you in on a little secret: they can't force you to go to the hospital. If you have had a healthy pregnancy, a normal amount of amniotic fluid (as judged by the ultra-sound you probably had after your non-stress test at 41 weeks, more about those soon) and are feeling good, you're likely right on time according to baby's schedule. If you're worried do a kick count every day to keep track of baby's movements. It's as simple as it sounds. Baby should make at least 10 noticeable movements within a 2 hour window. Remember that babies in utero sleep, so if she's asleep try drinking some juice and sitting down for a bit before you start counting. If baby stops moving for an extended period of time or you feel like something is wrong at any time always call your practitioner right away.

And if you're just ready for baby to come or were given a cut-off date of 43 weeks? Don't worry there are a variety of safe things that you can do at home to encourage baby to make his arrival. But be forewarned, if your labor is not ready to start on it's own there is NOTHING that can be done to force it (not even a hospital induction). 

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Natural Remedies to Encourage Labor

• Drink a glass of wine and relax. Nothing is more likely to hold back your labor than stress and tension. Go to the movies, have a long dinner, get a massage. Do whatever will put you totally at ease and in tune with your body and partner. 
• Eat something spicy. Movement of the bowels can help stimulate labor (and it does work the other way around too...)
• Have some sex. Prostaglandin, which is what synthetic cervix ripeners are made of, is found naturally in semen. It helps soften or ripen the cervix for dilation. Also, having an orgasm can help by causing pleasurable uterine contractions and relaxing you. 
• Go for a walk. Movement helps bring baby lower into the pelvis. It is theorized that the pressure from baby's noggin may help prime the cervix. 
• Drink a California Cocktail: 1 pt. vodka, 1 pt. Castor oil, 1 pt. soda water. Same idea here as spicy food. Castor oil will get you sitting on the pot for sure. This really should be kept as a last resort when you're looking at week 43. 
• Rub on your nipples. Nipple stimulation causes can cause contractions. This can go with the sex or by yourself. 
• Eat a nightshade. It is thought that a toxin found in nightshade veggies like eggplant cause uterine contractions. 
• Talk it through. If there is anything bothering you it could be putting a hold on labor. Ina May calls this the "mind/body connection". Fear, relationship problems, or any kind of worry or stress can cause you to tense up and hold off labor. 
• Drink some tea: raspberry leaf, cinnamon, and licorice have all been known to help.
• Go for a swim. 
• Try acupuncture or acupressure or a chiropractic alignment. 

Looking for more natural labor inducing tips? Check out 40 Natural Ways to Induce Labor on Your Own or talk to your local midwife.
And of course, when making these decisions the choice is yours so use your best judgement.