When nine months has come and gone and it appears as though one's little darling has set up an official residency in the womb, parents do not have to sit back and see if Junior will ever arrive. There are natural ways to encourage him or her. Some will be more enticing than others, but they are all worth trying when the prize is worth so much.
Natural ways to induce or stimulate labor include:
- certain types of foods
- nipple stimulation
- love-making
Foods That Induce Labor
While there are some resources that say certain types of foods induce labor, there are just as many sources that state the lack of evidence in being sure as to whether they do or not. For this reason, it is best to choose of the following foods only those one would eat anyway.
Foods that are said to induce labor are pineapple, basil, oregano, and spicy foods. Interestingly enough, pineapple is not thought to be a labor inducer so much as a cervical ripening agent, according to the site GivingBirthNaturally.com.
Basil and oregano work their way into many different dishes, especially Italian foods like spaghetti, chicken parmesan, and fried chicken cutlets.
When it comes to spicy foods, Dr. Marjorie Greenfield of DrSpock.com says that while spicy foods have been noted by many to bring about labor when women are full term, the above sentiment of avoiding foods not normally eaten should be taken seriously. After all, labor can be uncomfortable enough; indigestion will only make it more so.
Nipple Stimulation to Induce Labor
BirthingNaturally.net notes that stimulating the nipples by gently rolling or suckling on them can induce labor. The reason for this is because when the nipples are stimulated, oxytocin, the natural hormone that brings about increased contractions, will be released into the mother's bloodstream. The baby will sense this and feel encouraged to come on out and meet everyone.
Some key tips for nipple stimulation are that they should not be stimulated longer than five minutes at a time and breaks should last as long as 15 minutes in between. During a contraction, stimulation techniques should cease.
Now, while this is all going on, it can also be mixed in with other techniques.
Induce Labor With Love-making
Some sources have noted that women will not be quite as excited as their partners to make love, but the sacrifice can be made to induce labor. The reason this works is because contractions can occur during sex and while contractions may occur, semen helps ripen the cervix. Despite the fact that the two partners are less-than-enthusiastic as they may have been 40 weeks prior, the deed that gets a couple to this place will also get them out of it.
Post-date delivery is not uncommon, but it doesn't have to be an extended reality. Between good medical care, a naturally ripened cervix, and stimulated contractions via oxytocin, labor can be achieved.
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