The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS,
a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA
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Support the inclusion of Certified Professional Midwives in Medicaid and health care reform. Where's the Birth Plan? by Jennifer Block - Midwifery-style care saves money and provides excellence for the new family--a great two for one proposal! She clearly points out how the more humane style of care provided by midwives not only saves money, but also saves lives. A new economic analysis forecasts savings of $9.1 billion per year if 10 percent of women planned to deliver out of hospital with midwives. The
Debate on Healthcare Policy Reform by Faith Gibson, a healthcare historian
and policy theoretician
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There is a vegetable oil called CASTOR Oil, which is sometimes used
to get labor going or for other medicinal purposes. There is a petroleum
product, i.e. motor oil, called Castrol Oil, which could be toxic.
Please do not confuse them!
Spicy food is often recommended as a way of getting labor going. Recent research shows that chili peppers contain a chemical capsaicin, which has been shown in lab rats to dull the pain-killing effects of the G spot; it's not clear how long this effect lasts, but the little I've been able to find indicates that it's probably a relatively long-lasting effect and possibly cumulative.
Beyond the g spot: New research on human female sexual anatomy and physiology*, Whipple B, Scandinavian Journal of Sexology, Volume 3 no. 2
WARNING!!! If you have Aetna health insurance, you may want to change at the next opportunity, when your employer has their annual "open enrollment". Aetna doesn't cover homebirth, citing a single study based in rural Australia which shows that high-risk births far away from a hospital are high risk. They further cite the policies of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, both business competitors to homebirth providers. Their policy statement ignores a mountain of evidence that homebirth is as safe as or safer than hospital birth for normal, healthy pregnancies.. If their policymakers have any integrity, this logic will soon lead to cessation of coverage for planned VBAC's . . . there's no dearth of studies and AAP and ACOG policies proclaiming the danger of VBAC's . . . and then they'll stop coverage for any woman who declines standard ACOG/AAP recommendations regarding routine ultrasound, routine induction, routine IV's, routine use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring, routine administration of antibiotics for all GBS positive women (up to 40% of birthing women), and prompt cesareans for any woman who fails to progress in a timely fashion during labor and pushing. They may also stop coverage for children who are not vaccinated according to the full schedule of vaccinations recommended by the AAP, even though many intelligent parents decline the newborn hepatitis B vaccine and practice selective vaccination according to their child's own needs.
If this is troubling to you, as it should be, let them know. You
can easily send
e-mail to Aetna's National Media Relations Contacts and simply tell
them that they should not be in the business of denying coverage for reasonable
healthcare choices, such as homebirth, waterbirth and VBAC. They
will especially want to know if you are choosing another healthcare provider
because of this unreasonable policy. You might also suggest that
they expand their research beyond ACOG and AAP recommendations. They
could start at: http:
According to the World Health Organization, the optimal c-section rate
is between 5-10%. Yet, here in the United States in 2005, it is over
25%. Obviously, over half of the c-sections done are unnecessary
. . . often done because of lack of patience or fear of liability on the
doctor's part. These unnecessary c-sections account for over $15
billion annually in patient charges. Some
suggested Alternative (Non-Pharmaceutical) Induction/Augmentation Ideas
condensed from the remainder of this web page, courtesy of Birthrites:
Healing After Caesarean [Follow the link in the left-hand column
to "Induction or Augmentation of Labour especially during a VBAC"]
Connie Banack has done a nice job writing up a summary
of natural induction techniques.
Summary of Natural Methods of Induction
- this is a summary of what midwives are actually doing in practice
One Midwife's Herbal Induction Protocol
Philosophy and Technique of non-Pharmaceutical
Induction
I think the biggest part of bringing on labor is attitude. Clear away
tension, doubts, and fears and this will help immensely. Another tip is
the castor oil cocktail: glass of orange juice, baking soda, and castor
oil
I put some borage oil on my glove (with my client's informed consent)
and did an exam. I didn't strip the membranes and could not even reach
the cervix because it was too far posterior. Those who are overdue ( or
even before if desired) can take a capsule at night orally and put one
in the vagina to melt.
Apparently Borage seed oil works because the GLAs have prostaglandin
precursors which start labor. Black currant seed and Evening Primrose are
other options that supposedly work too but have fewer GLAs and may be cheaper
to purchase.
I usually squirt Evening Primrose on to my fingers and separate the
cervix from the membranes, making sure to get the oil all over the cervix.
Then I sometimes just put one or two capsules into the vagina. They dissolve
there. I wouldn't do that at a hospital birth however, because The MD might
be shocked to see those little capsules born with the baby!
I have good success with using EPO with VBAC mums. One went from unripe
cervix to delivery 6 days later. I get them to use an oral dose of three
500 mg caps/day.
Evening Primrose Oil acts as a prostaglandin, which ripens or softens
the cervix. It's also useful for softening scar tissue from abortions or
IUD damage. This will soften/ripen the cervical tissues and increase the
flexibility of the pelvic ligaments. This will help the baby to deeply
engage in the pelvis. This early application of the baby's head will assist
with dilation and should result in a relatively easy birth, even after
multiple C-sections for "stalled" labor. Evening Primrose Oil may be helpful
for women with borderline pelvises as well. The utilization of Evening
Primrose Oil seems to enhance the complex set of biochemical messages that
initiate labor.
You can take evening primrose oil, orally, in the last four weeks of
your pregnancy. You should take three evening primrose oil capsules daily
for the first week (36th week of gestation) and then one to two capsules
a day for the last three weeks of pregnancy.
2X/day oral and suppository starting at your due date or the week before,
check with your midwife first.
My midwife told me to take Evening Primrose oil (gel-caps) 3X's per
day and to insert 2 in the vagina at bedtime--you must stay laying down
or else they fall out.
Evening Primrose oil can soften the cervix. My midwife recommends taking
3 capsules per day for the last 4 to 6 weeks. However, it doesn't START
labor, only prepares the cervix. It is not an emmenagogue or get more oxytocin
into your system.
My friend's doctor said you should never insert anything into
the vaginal canal. My friend used it and got an infection and a bad
irritation to inserting it into her. Please just post that use with caution.
I wouldn't want anyone else to be hurt like this. Thank you.
This information seems contradictory.
Does this doctor ever do cervical exams during pregnancy? Do they recommend
no sexual intercourse during pregnancy? If sexual intercourse is OK, do
they suggest using condoms so that semen isn't put into the vagina?
Semen is much more powerful than evening primrose oil, although they contain
some of the same active ingredients.
All of those involve inserting something into the vagina.
Obviously, anything inserted into the vagina should be clean and not
harmful to the tissues, but evening primrose oil is less likely to cause
infection than a penis.
Changes
in the Bishop score induced by manual nipple stimulation. A cross-over
randomized study.
Cervical
ripening by breast stimulation.
Applying hot packs/heat to breasts is supposed to get a chemical going
naturally [ed. presumably oxytocin] and will start labor. It worked
with my second baby. I had bronchitis and it turned into a bad cold/cough.
About a week before my due date, I had put a heat pad on my chest, hoping
to loosen it up for breathing purposes. The next morning I went into
labor and within a few hours, I delivered a healthy baby!! I then
recalled having read somewhere that applying heat to the breasts will induce
labor.
The method taught to me was to stimulate (with an electric breast pump,
preferably) until a contraction starts, stop the pump during the contraction
and then switch to the other breast. Switching frequently probably helps
avoid nipple strain and the breaks for contractions are supposed to prevent
over-stimulation. (If doing manual stimulation, you might try using Lansinoh
to prevent nipple soreness.)
Sweeping Membranes for Starting Labor
Foley Catheter for Starting Labor
Cohosh (in my experience) can make lots of uncomfortable toning contractions
and false labor sometimes with the risk of raising the blood pressure.
Because of this, I suggest another option which is taken orally. Nutritional
Formulas make Matrigin. A similar medicine is made by Weleda with a different
name-Dolisos Caulophyllum Complex. It is a 5 remedy homeopathic concoction
that has reduced the length of labor in a double blind study in France
(The Dolisos Study). Women started taking it at the beginning of the ninth
month.
I have used it for preventing postmaturity and ripening the cervix in
a few women who would seem to benefit from that. The remedies in the combination
are Arnica, Caulophyllum, Cimicifuga, Pulsatilla and Gelsemium. Perhaps
clients seem to fit to the personality/fears/symptoms of a certain remedy,
in which case it is better to give a single remedy if a remedy is even
warranted. Cimicifuga fears she will die in childbirth, for example. I
have turned to caulophyllum in a putzy labor.
Are you concerned at all with the properties of Pulsatilla, which sometimes
(generally?) results in babies turning from breech to vertex and vise versa?
Herbal
Allies for Pregnancy by Linda Woolven from Mothering
Magazine - has a section on Bringing on Birth.
Black and Blue cohosh and B&B tincture if they go overdue.
Blue cohosh tea (check with your caregiver first.)
Blue
Cohosh and Birth Defects - This article points out that the alleged
association between blue cohosh and birth defects comes from a single case
in which the mom didn't even take any blue cohosh until the last month
of pregnancy, which is past the point of causing birth defects.
The following is a list of herbs or remedies to encourage or strengthen
labor. Individuals may vary in their sensitivity and response to these
remedies. Always start with the lowest recommended dosage first and increase
slowly only if needed. Please check with your care provider before initiating
any of these remedies to be sure they are appropriate for you.
A tip I've learned in this search of mine... To induce labor in a full
term client, use 2 ml palma rosa essential oil (make sure it is therapeutic
grade essential oil) in to 100 ml carrier oil (no peanut oil for pregnant
woman)to give a full body massage 24 hours before you want labor to start.
Paying special attention to the abdomen and back. I haven't tried it yet,
but it is supposed to boost the level of oxytocin. I figure at worst you
have a very relaxed pregnant mom...And at best... well things get going.
( this tip came from a midwife, RN, and licensed aromatherapist from england.
1500+ births)
This is straight from Naturally Healthy Pregnancy, by Shonda Parker
- "Master Gland - A combination of vitamins, minerals and herbs is use
do nourish the glandular system so that it might function normally.
Since the glands produce our hormones, it makes sense that this would help
initiate labor. My own personal experience in recommending this to
midwives and having them use it with clients is that it has not failed
to work in the post dates woman who is ready for labor but not going into
labor. The herbs it contains are: Licorice, Lemon bioflavonoids,
Asparagus, Alfalfa, Parsley, Kelp, Black Walnut, Thyme, Parthenium, Schizandra,
Siberian Ginseng, Dong Quai, Dandelion, Uva Ursi, Marshmallow.
Recommended amount: 2 tablets every 30 minutes until labor is underway
and throughout the labor. If headache occurs, discontinue for that
day and start again the next day. I have seen no problems with using
this dosage for two to three days. It seems to make the labors go
faster, too."
- We had tried massive doses of the cohoshes and inmortal...which did
nothing
but make my mouth sore, breast pump & manual nipple stim which only
succeeded in giving me purple nipples, castor oil which did get the labor
started, but then it petered out to the tune of one itty-bitty ctx every
30 minutes None of these tried-and-trues would keep my labor going --much
to the dismay of all, since I was 43 weeks. The goldenseal (taken one dropper
q 15 minutes til the babe came out) didn't knock me on my butt like the
pit did at my first birth, but did work in the same time span.
I am not an herbalist but...I would be extremely cautious about using
golden seal in pregnancy. I say this because I DID IT, but I would not
do it again. My firstborn was born at 36 weeks after I took golden seal
for suspected UTI. Now, its hard to know what triggered this because I
never had a positive culture. The early labor could have been because of
the possible UTI or the goldenseal. I have a history of cycles of
repeated UTI - usually associated with diaphragm use. Before I figured
that out, I found that homeopathic Cantharis was the thing that would turn
the corner for me on a UTI faster than all the other remedies combined.
Here is a quote from an excellent little book called "Healing the Family"
by Joy Gardner.
"I have not recommended [goldenseal because it] is a very potent herb
and not enough is known about it. However, what is known indicates that
it should be used with great caution by everyone. It contains high concentrations
of very potent alkaloids. It also contains berberine, an antibiotic which
has broad-spectrum activity against bacteria and protozoa. And it contains
hydrastine, which causes uterine contractions if taken in large quantities."
I have treated one woman who was 2 weeks from her due date with goldenseal
caps, 3x a day. Using goldenseal would be the exception not the rule, there
is some question of its safety in pregnancy and as a wild plant it is becoming
extremely rare.
I did 1/2 dropper q15 minutes after the castor oil induction started
to try and piddle out. We used it a couple more times while
I was still apprenticing and it works pretty well to "augment" but
I don't know if it works as a labor inducer, as that is out of my current
scope of experience.
Most people agree that induction of labor doesn't always work, but once
labor has started, these methods do work well.
Things often tried:
If considering any of these labor stimulating remedies, begin early
in the day after a good nights sleep and a light breakfast.
Blue Cohosh Tincture, 5 - 10 drops, in glass of water or tea, every
half-hour for up to 4 hours, until contractions are regular. If no labor
in 4 hours, take 1 dropper full, under the tongue every hour for up to
4 more hours until labor is strong and consistent..
Castor Oil:
a. May be warmed and rubbed on the belly and covered with a warm towel
or hot water bottle if the cervix is ripe and labor seems near. (Blue Cohosh
call also be used as above.)
OR b, Mix 2 ounces in 2 or more ounces of orange juice with a couple
ice cubes in the blender and followed by a hot shower if desired. The dose
may be repeated in 2 hours and followed by an enema if desired. If poor
response, a third dose may be attempted. Labor will usually begin within
3 - 5 hours of the last dose. Many women object to this regimen since uncomfortable
diarrhea and intestinal cramping is common.
Strengthening Labor
Blue and Black Cohosh Tinctures, 5 - 10 drops each under tongue or in
glass of water or tea, every hour for up to 6 - 8 hours if labor stalls
or contractions become weaker.
She could also put the labor ease extract in an enema and hold it in
as long as possible.
This seems to work pretty well. Do a cleansing enema first, and use
the labor tincture (perhaps with b&b tincture) in about a pint of warm
water with a spoonful of honey. -- said to absorb better this way. This
is essentially a tea, and mom could drink a cup or two of the same mixture
(funny to think of it going into both ends -- so to speak!)
No RCTs of course, just a traditional thing here, used instead of meds
if mom wants to give it a try. How about stripping membranes though?
I forgot to mention that the comino tea was unsweetened., though I don't
think it would be a problem to sweeten it by any means. The few ladies
that I saw who tried it weren't thrilled with the taste but accepted it
readily--my impression was that using comino wasn't unheard of. I haven't
really utilized this intervention, as soon after that time I fell in love
with homeopathic remedies and castor oil as favorite options for encouraging
things along. I know it can't taste great, but maybe I should invade
the spice cupboard and try some experimental batches.
The comino tea was made with cumin from the spice rack--I believe it
was 1 tsp. in a cup (approx. 6 oz) of hot water. I could never get clear
as to why the cube of potato was included--usual response was just that
this was the way it was done. The infusion was usually administered twice,
each cup about an hour apart as I recall.
My mother told me that the potato should be raw, about 1/2 inch cube.
It seems to be one of those things that stimulates contraction just enough
that if you are ripe and ready and labor is close anyway, it might kick
you over the edge.
When I eat food with great amounts of cumin, I get the castor oil type
clean-out of my system -not quite as violent as c-o but close. So, maybe
the mechanism is the same.
Here's some suggestions for herbs that have worked very well for me.
Start with 15 drops false unicorn root tincture, 10 drops Black Haw tincture
and 10 drops Wild Yam tincture, 3x/day. You can increase the false unicorn
to 25 drops and the wild yam to 15 drops, but maintain the black haw at
10 drops, if needed. You can also increase the # of times given, even up
to q20 min. in a crisis, then castor oil type clean-out of my system -not
quite as violent as c-o but close. So, maybe the mechanism is the same.
Here's some suggestions for herbs that have worked very well for me.
Start with 15 drops false unicorn root tincture, 10 drops Black Haw tincture
and 10 drops Wild Yam tincture, 3x/day. You can increase the false unicorn
to 25 drops and the wild yam to 15 drops, but maintain the black haw at
10 drops, if needed. You can also increase the # of times given, even up
to q20 min. in a crisis, then wean back down. This has worked very well
for me as well as several other midwives that I work with.
PN-6 is available from:
Evening primrose oil is also sometimes recommended for oral and vaginal
use, as it contains precursors to prostaglandin. Vaginal use is controversial,
as there's apparently no mechanism for the cervix to convert the precursors
to prostaglandin, but it has a certain appeal.
I've heard folks tell (how's that for anecdotal?) that they recommend
mom's go off all fluids and foods starting the day they want the baby to
get born. contractions usually begin within 12 hours and then they can
eat and drink once labor is getting along. . . .
I thought the decreased fluid intake led to decreased fluid volume,
which led to increased concentration of oxytocin in the blood. If this
increased oxytocin concentration met the increased uterine receptivity,
then contractions resulted.
You can reverse the effect by increased fluid intake, bolstered by deep
water immersion to push the fluids into the bloodstream. This is why baths
can stall out early labor or ease the intensity of active labor.
This might belong in the half-baked theory category but someone (can't
remember who) once told me that the reason dehydration causes contractions
is that the other hormone produced by the posterior pituitary is anti-diuretic
hormone (ADH). Dehydration causes the release of ADH and the stimulation
of the posterior pituitary causes some oxytocin to be released as well.
Seems to make sense but I don't know whether it's accurate.
What does OBE stand for? Ancient midwifery trick to induce labor
Oil-Enema-Bath. Used for generations in US and UK hospitals. Early
admit to begin in AM. Mom takes a big hit of castor oil.. followed by a
3 H enema (high, hot, hell of a lot), then after the CO takes effect --
and it will -- she soaks in a warm bath for a while. I know the initials
are out of order -- it should be OEB - but I think OBE is a
british joke on Knighthood awards.
Almost always women are in labor pretty dang soon... especially if cervix
is ripe. If no ctx within 2 or 3 hours.. repeat the CO. And it's
a lot of CO too... usually 2 to 4 ounces depending on recipe.
It's a lot to get through -- but after the upset stomach and the runs...the
tummy settles down and soon mom is almost always in labor...
now .. if you REALLY wanna induce -- because you decided you really
cannot wait.. then do the OBE after you strip the membranes.
ANd I mean REALLY strip the membranes -- two knuckles deep and SLOW,
SLOW, SLOW and stretch and stay in there with your fingers barely moving
for about ten or fifteen minutes -- just gently stretch and stop.. hold
the stretch.. stop moving... scootch your fingers a little further over..
stretch.. stop.. maintain the stretch.. Do it GENTLY. SLOWLY. DON"t do
the quick run around the rim and out that we were taught was "stripping".
Insinuate your fingers gently.. slowly.. YOu don't want to abrade the cervix..
you want to make it respond to a stretch -- you want to set off a reflex
reaction (it is not true that stripping works by causing a mild infection/inflammation.
If so.. it would take time to see an effect. ANd if you do this right...
SLOW.. GENTLE... you will start to feel contractions while you are in there.
YOu will take long enough that you'll need to change hands so have extra
gloves handy.. SLOW is the word. Stretch and hold -- don't run your fingers
back and forth... be gentle.. just scootch the cervix open.. and if you
take enough time you will feel the cervix begin to open.. it can go from
a tight two where you can barely fit one fingertip to where you can get
three fingers and wiggle them all the way around to the second knuckle.
Go slow and count by the clock.
And when you get really good at this stretch/massage, you will almost
always have labor --- without having to go all the way to the oil, enema
steps.
I'm posting this with the understanding that it is major interference
in pregnancy. And the hope that it will not ever be used without deep consideration
of risks and benefits. I DO NOT believe in inducing unless there is very
good reason to induce... and this particular technique is interventive
enough to be considered an INDUCTION!
It IS effective. Seldom fails. But use it wisely -- please.
While I've never given a milk and molasses enema, I've had great results
with a retention enema of herbal teas or added herb tinctures to get labor
moving. Last time the mom sat on the toilet and didn't get up until about
1 hour later to have the baby...she had been at 4 cm the hour before! And
yes rehydration with an enema is very rapid, not unlike using an IV and
way less invasive.
Try a good cleansing enema followed about fifteen minutes later by an
enema made of very strong raspberry tea and labor tincture? Yes, add honey
to it. Make up enough for her to drink a couple cups too.
About an hour after the enema do a SLOW, THOROUGH, GENTLE cervical stretch.
Not just sweeping the membranes, but ever so gently stretching the cervix
and insinuating your fingers in to loosen the membranes and get a good
forewaters formed. (Do NOT "massage" the cervix!). Just barely move your
fingers so slowly -- the sensation should be that you are gently 'pulling"
the cervix away from the membranes. Slip your finger between the membranes
and the cervical/uterine wall and work to loosen the attachments). Work
slowly all around the cervix; you'll probably need to change hands at least
once. You might need to take fifteen minutes (BY THE CLOCK), but
it literally almost never fails.
The last few years, I've mostly only done the cervical stretch alone
without the enema and that's all it takes. Mom starts having ctx within
a few hours at most and is generally in good labor by six hours.
But if a baby really needs to get born, I'll do the double punch of enema
and cervical stretch
Acupuncture
for cervical ripening and induction of labor at term--a randomized controlled
trial.
"CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at points LI4 and SP 6 supports cervical ripening
at term and can shorten the time interval between the EDC and the actual
time of delivery."
The pressure points that I am aware of: (1) on the roof of your mouth,
just behind the ridge behind the teeth, (2) four fingerwidths - and these
should be from the fingers of the person using the pressure point - above
the inner ankle, (3) on the hand, in between the thumb and the pointer
finger - I have heard that this is both for pain relief as well as for
stimulating uterine contractions. So far I have not found anything definitive
about which it is really for.
There is some thinking that a TENS unit
will stimulate the nerves of the uterus and induce labor. No studies
on this, but if you've got a TENS unit, why not give it a try? If
you do, please let me know whether it works, either way, so I can collect
some data about this. Please
e-mail me the results, including where you placed the pads and how often
and how long you used it. Here's some feedback:
I used a TENS machine one evening at 37.5 weeks with my first and my
waters broke early the next morning - I hadn't been warned about whacking
it up to top speed which my midwife tells me is probably what did it.
Contractions started around midnight and my son was delivered by low cavity
forceps at around 5 pm the following day.
I found the study:
Transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulation at acupuncture points in the induction of
uterine contractions.
"A significant increase in frequency and strength of uterine contractions
was found in the electrically stimulated women compared with the placebo-group
women."
The
influence of acupuncture stimulation during pregnancy: the induction and
inhibition of labor.
"[I]nduction of labor was attempted; in 32 cases delivery was achieved,
resulting in a success rate of 78%."
A couple of contradictory studies:
Sex
close to due date may cause spontaneous labor, study finds - "Women
who have sexual intercourse during late pregnancy are more likely than
abstinent women to have a spontaneous delivery at 38 to 40 weeks' and less
likely to require labor induction, according to results of a study conducted
in Malaysia."
Effect
of Coitus at Term on Length of Gestation, Induction of Labor, and Mode
of Delivery
"CONCLUSION: Reported sexual intercourse at term was associated with
earlier onset of labor and reduced requirement for labor induction at 41
weeks."
Sexual
intercourse at term and onset of labor.
CONCLUSION: Sexual intercourse at term is not associated with ripening
of the cervix and does not hasten labor.
Some Medscape articles:
Sexual intercourse
for cervical induction and the induction of labour
Sexual Intercourse
at Term May Not Hasten Delivery
Late-Pregnant Sex
Doesn’t Speed Labor
Coitus at Term
May Be Linked to Earlier Onset of Labor
I wonder if the researcher didn't miss the boat on this one. In
particular, I have to ask whether it really makes sense that the group
who is more sexually active had lower Bishop's score, i.e. the cervix was
LESS ripe. This is totally counter to the well-established practice
of using prostaglandins (from real animal semen?) to ripen the cervix and
induce labor.
Let's also consider the methodology of the study . . . the women were
only asked about sexual activity at prenatal appointments, not after labor
had started. This approach misses the class of women who aren't routinely
sexually active in late term but who then successfully use sex as a way
of starting labor. Those women never made it to the next prenatal
appointment!
I also observe that this is another study that completely ignores the
role of genetic heritage in
the natural gestation length. This is especially important because
sexual practices in pregnancy often have a strong cultural foundation.
It's possible that if the researcher had asked the right questions at the
right time, the real outcome of this study might have been that some ethnic
groups with naturally longer gestations also have cultural prohibitions
against sex during pregnancy.
If you're trying to help stretch out the lower uterine segment and allow
the baby to drop, more semen could only help. If you'd like the semen without
the usual intercourse, you might consider collecting semen in a condom
and applying it in some creative way. You could probably pinch the condom
about an inch from the end, turn the rest inside out around your hand,
insert the condom as high near your cervix as possible and then push the
semen out near your cervix. Knee-chest for a while might help as well.
I know of absolutely no studies about any of this, so you're on your own
regarding how much effort this might seem worth.
This brings to mind a rather funny conversation I once had with another
midwife (Tip of the Year - avoid midwives in restaurants!) about creative
ways to get semen onto a cervix. We had the idea of collecting it in condoms
and then freezing it. I think we were originally considering this for a
mom whose husband was away in the military, so we imagined that her husband
could pre-freeze his semen before leaving into little POP-sicles. Or maybe
we were calling them Prosta-Pops or something. The details blessedly escape
me.
It just occurred to me that it might be easier to get those empty gelatin
capsules at the health food store and simply put the semen in there.
Anyway, all of the above might be useful if you're adamant about getting
the dad's semen onto your cervix.
If you just want the baby to drop and aren't so picky about how that
happens, you might want to consider herbs.
I once worked with a mom whose first three babies had never dropped
(all 3 c-secs). She started taking PN-6 late in pregnancy, and the baby
engaged at 35 weeks. She was very happy and did go into spontaneous labor
7 weeks later. The extreme length of time between engagement and labor
makes me think it was the herbs helping the lower uterine segment to soften
and stretch. I'm not sure this is a great thing, as you then might have
a baby's head uncomfortably engaged for longer than nature might do it.
But you might consider it worth the gamble.
Sex accompanied by manual or vibrator stimulation for effective climax
along with depositing semen on the cervix. Or self stimulation via manual
or vibrator with strong climactic reaction is also effective. In
particular, breast stimulation has been shown to ripen
the cervix.
From the experience of our ethnic group, women have been using a juice
of boiled pumpkin roots by drinking a half cup of tea, with good effect;
however risk factors should be ruled out.
Blowing up balloons builds up intra-adominal pressure and can
put more pressure on the cervix to move things along.
That was great advice and below I have added my little collection to
the list as well. These were all suggested to me by various folks who ALL
got these recommendations from midwifes.
Cumin seed tea recipe:
1 T. cumin seed to one cup of boiling water...let steep for 5 minutes
and drink tea. not to exceed (1 number) cups of tea per (hour/day).
Pineapple for Cervical Ripening
Resources
just by eliminating unnecessary c-sections in the United
States.
Philosophy of Induction
Ripening the Cervix with Borage Oil or Evening Primrose
Oil
Nipple and Breast Stimulation
Di Lieto A, Miranda L, Ardito P, Favale P, Albano G
Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 1989;16(1):26-9
Salmon YM, Kee WH, Tan SL, Jen SW
Obstet Gynecol 1986 Jan;67(1):21-4
It is stressed that no uterine hypertonus was detected with
gentle, unilateral breast stimulation, and there were no maternal or fetal
complications as a result of this modality of cervical ripening.
Breast stimulation
Start by applying warm compresses to both breasts, uncover one breast and
begin use of pump. Using an electric breastpump, start by pumping on uncovered
side for 15 min then switch sides and place warm compress on pumped side
and begin pumping on other side, continue this alternation technique until
regular strong and rhythmic contractions begin (usually 20-30 minutes)
then stop...if contractions should begin to decline in strength or regularity,
resume breast stimulation with breastpump for 5 min/side until the strength
and regularity resumes. Contractions should be a minimum of (5) minutes
apart lasting 60-90 seconds.
Sweeping Membranes aka Stripping Membranes
Foley Catheter
Homeopathic Options for Induction
Castor Oil Options for Induction
About Castor Oil and Meconium
Herbal Options for Induction
Cervical Ripening
Goldenseal for Induction
Goldenseal
NOTE - Goldenseal is a threatened species, increasingly
rare in the wild and very difficult to cultivate. If you must use
goldenseal, please find an organically farmed source.
General Schemes for Induction/Initiating Labor
EPO capsules (evening primrose oil), 2-3 capsules high in the vagina,
repeat 2-3x 24hr intervals
Cumin Tea
- The traditional midwives, or parteras, I worked with in Texas
used comino as a tea to stimulate labor in the presence of ruptured membranes.
They always put a cube of potato at the bottom of the cup. I was fascinated--it
really seemed to work.
Cascade Health Care Products, Inc.
141 Commercial Street, NE
Salem, Oregon 97301
(800)443-9942 (Orders only)
(503)371-4445 (Customer Service)
Fasting/Dehydration
Enemas for Starting Labor
Mom has to be willing to put up with this... it is uncomfortable but
not painful because you are not forcing anything and you are going SLOW
and GENTLE!
Acupressure/Acupuncture For Starting Labor
Rabl M, Ahner R, Bitschnau M, Zeisler H, Husslein P.
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2001 Dec 17;113(23-24):942-6.
TENS Use for Starting Labor
Dunn PA, Rogers D, Halford K.
Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Feb;73(2):286-90.
Tsuei JJ, Lai Y, Sharma SD.
Obstet Gynecol. 1977 Oct;50(4):479-8.
Sexual Activity / Semen for Starting Labor
Peng Chiong Tan, Anggeriana Andi, Noor Azmi, M. N. Noraihan
Obstet. Gynecol., Jul 2006; 108: 134 - 140
Schaffir J.
Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jun;107(6):1310-4.
Oral Application of Semen
About fellatio: Actually, it would probably be beneficial, if the idea
is to get the labour started. A great OB in Hamilton (John Lamont, I believe)
spoke to our class about sexuality and pregnancy. He mentioned the concept
that prostaglandins are absorbed 10X more efficiently through the gut than
through the vaginal mucosa, with respect to semen and labour onset.
Miscellaneous Induction Approaches
There are many things you can do approaching your dd to help, I recommend,
as difficult as it may be!, making love with your dh once a day, don't
get up right away after and elevating your hips is a good idea. This lets
the prostaglandin in your dhs semen coat your cervix which helps to ripen
it. Also, find a source for red raspberry LEAF tea and drink at least one
cup a day. This also will help ripen your cervix. Do these things for a
week or more, then go for the big guns if and when you have passed your
dd. Making love, again!!, until you have had multiple orgasms has worked
for a friend of mine who consistently went overdue. Nipple stimulation
worked for me!! I sat in bed with my tea and "stimulated" my nipples, sometimes
with dhs help!, and brought on good, strong contractions in about an hour!!
Blue cohosh tea is another option, but don't use it if you are anemic or
have a history of postpartum bleeding, or excessive blood loss during birth.
Finally, go ahead and have that glass of wine you have been dying to have,
at this point, it won't harm the baby, and will relax you-hopefully enough
to bring 'em on!! I have a friend who swears by a good cry- she gets a
tearjerker form the video store and has a good bawl to relieve tension.
She has had 3 children and went at least 1 week overdue with each of them.
The most important thing to do is to find a way to relieve tension. Tension
works against labor. Relieve it., let everything go, and you may be surprised
to find yourself in labor.
Changing Temperature
Alternate cold/hot water. After 41 weeks.
Intense Music
I put on 'Holst:The Planets', specifically the 'Mars' selection (a brilliant
and forceful piece) and danced about the house with the music coursing
through me -- i went into labor before the disc was over. the prenatal
classroom book advises against playing this piece - they it is too intense.
it could have been coincidence that it worked for me, then again, maybe
not!!
Swinging
Go to a local park or playground and swing on those nice big swings.
This is a really fun way to start labor!
Curb Walking
Try curb walking to help bring on labor. I know it sounds funny, but I
really believe it helps. Walk along a curb, one leg up on the curb and
one in the gutter, then turn around and go the other way.
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