What is labor?
Labor is the process in which both the fetus and placenta leave the uterus of the pregnant woman through delivery. There are three stages of labor and it can even begin as early as weeks before a woman gives birth to her child.
How to naturally induce labor?
There are different ways on how to naturally induce labor that will help you smoothly during this stage of your pregnancy. These natural means of labor is beneficial because you can do it at the comforts of your own homes as long as you are well-equipped with the different techniques properly.
1. Red raspberry leaf tea. This herbal tea is often recommended by midwives in combination with evening primrose oil which helps in priming and softening the cervix of the pregnant
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Acupressure. Acupressure is an old-age practice which provides a lot of healthy benefits to those who are subjecting themselves into it. Acupressure places pressure on specific points on the woman’s body and help stimulate uterine activity. The key for a successful acupressure-induced labor is to start the practice early during the pregnancy. There are also some pressure points which are safe to press at the start of 37 weeks. It is important that you have the correct instructions from a trained acupressure professional before doing it on your own self to avoid harming the baby inside you.
4. Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a practice where thin needles are inserted into specific pressure points in the body. Experts have it that this practice can stimulate the activity in the uterus and move the baby into action. Acupuncture also helps in the release of oxytocin in the body.
5. Nipple stimulation. If you are bored and have nothing to do while sitting around on the couch, why don’t you start stimulating your nipples? Nipple stimulation for a few hours each day helps your body in releasing oxytocin, a hormone that brings about contraction activities. However, though it can naturally induce labor, some practitioners are against this method because it can lead to painful long and strong contractions in the uterus that may decrease the heart rate of the fetus within the
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Walking. Walking will help your baby descend into your pelvis. Since there is a pressure from the baby in the pelvis, it will prime your cervix for the labor process and help in labor progression if you are already having some contractions. Just take note that you should not tire yourself before the actual delivery date because you need all your strength and energy into pushing your baby out.
7. Castor oil. Castor oil is known as a natural laxative for ages. And though it is not a very tasty one to drink, many women have sworn by its effectiveness to help induce labor naturally. The castor oil will cause spasms in your intestines which will lead to bowel stimulation. Once this happens, the uterus will become irritated and it will start to contract. However, you should not take this method if you are not yet showing any signs of labor as this will only result to diarrhea which might cause more problems on your pregnancy.
8. Massage. Massage is a relaxation technique which benefits the entire body. When it comes to labor during pregnancy, it is also known to be effective in inducing natural labor by increasing the level of oxytocin in the
When pregnant, many expecting mothers are faced with a very tough decision, the decision to have an epidural during labor or to have a natural birth. Both methods have negative and positive aspects. This topic has such conflicting views that about 50% of women decide to get an epidural when going into labor and the other 50% of women choose the alternative: natural childbirth. It is important for an expecting mother to look into both options thoroughly to ensure they make the best choice for both themselves and for their child. With all of the speculations circulating about both options, it is hard for mothers to see the truth about both epidurals and natural childbirth.
This special touch ability also prompts the body to produce more of the hormone Oxytocin. As the Oxytocin increases in the body, the labor speeds up. According to Lora Schwacke, having a Doula on hand can reduce labor times by as much as 25% overall.
The first stage of labor actually has two phases. The first phase is called early labor. During early labor, you should start to feel something like light cramps. It is also common to feel pressure in your lower back. This is the start of what is called “contracting”.
In doing this project the literature drawn from is largely non-scholarly for the reason that I am prevailing upon the reader to think outside the box about birth. Most of the “scholarly” research that is available was written by doctors or nurses/nurse midwives who were trained in the medical model of birth. Since part of my premise is that the high rate of Cesarean sections is caused in part by viewing birth as a medical and therefore pathological event, and in part for its emergence as a capitalistic industry, it was then necessary to find literature written by people who have expertise in birthing though not from the traditional obstetrical/medical school approach.
"7 Tips For Having A Natural Childbirth." Fit Pregnancy. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. .
... help us to lengthen the duration. Our babies, our bodies and our families can reap the benefits of a happier and better rested mother-baby pair.
A Lamaze class is a class for expecting parents to find out information about childbirth. The purpose of these courses is to give childbearing mothers more confidence in their capacity to give birth. In addition, it teaches them how to deal with the pain, the process of labor, breathing techniques, and how to provide comfort (Mothers Advocate, 2009). This method was developed by a French doctor named Dr. Fernand Lamaze, he constructed a method of pain relief, derived from Pavlov’s principles. He formed the type of psych prophylactic method during his surveillance in the Soviet Union (Lothian, 2009). These classes focus on the participants and their Lamaze partners, and teaching the, dynamic relaxation techniques and breathing to ease the anxiety of labor and birth. Usually these classes are conducted over six to eight weeks (Mothers Advocate, 2009). Ultimately, Lamaze classes attempt to replace their negative presumption pertaining to pregnancy and the birth process with optimistic, learned responses and managing skills. Additionally, Lamaze classes focus on breastfeeding and the importance of it.
Field T., Preterm infant massage therapy studies: An American approach. Semin Neonatal, 2002; 7, 487-494.
Pregnant women can also benefit from chiropractic care. Chiropractic care can help control common pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea. Women who receive chiropractic care while they are pregnant also have healthier pregnancies and shorter labors. Chiropractic care can even help turn a breech baby. Additionally, chiropractic care can reduce the mother's chances of needing a
Why should I have a natural birth, “You don’t get a medal for going without drugs, you know.” Why go through the pain when you can get an injection that can take away just enough of the pain that you can still enjoy the labor? “There is no shame in asking for an epidural,” said Dr. Cynthia Wong of Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University. In the United States more than 80% of pregnant women are now having c-sections. Epidurals give the mothers a chance to participate in the delivery and actually enjoy it. You can also get a walking epidural so that you can still push during the labor and cope with the pain.
The hospital room holds all the usual scenery: rooms lining featureless walls, carts full of foreign devices and competent looking nurses ready to help whatever the need be. The side rails of the bed smell of plastic. The room is enveloped with the smell of plastic. A large bed protrudes from the wall. It moves from one stage to the next, with the labor, so that when you come to the "bearing" down stage, the stirrups can be put in place. The side rails of the bed provide more comfort than the hand of your coach, during each contraction. The mattress of the bed is truly uncomfortable for a woman in so much pain. The eager faces of your friends and family staring at your half naked body seem to be acceptabl...
The version of childbirth that we’re used to is propagated by television and movies. A woman, huge with child, is rushed to the hospital when her water breaks. She is ushered into a delivery room and her husband hovers helplessly as nurses hook her up to IVs and monitors. The woman writhes in pain and demands relief from the painful contractions. Narcotic drugs are administered through her IV to dull the pain, or an epidural is inserted into the woman’s spine so that she cannot feel anything below her waist. When the baby is ready to be born, the doctor arrives dressed in surgical garb. The husband, nurses and doctor become a cheerleading squad, urging the woman to, “Push!” Moments later, a pink, screaming newborn is lifted up for the world to see. Variations on this theme include the cesarean section, where the woman is wheeled to the operating room where her doctors remove the baby through an incision in her abdomen.
Perry, S. E., Hockenberry, M. J., Lowdermilk, D. L., & Wilson, D. (2013). Labor and Birth Processes. In Maternal Child Nursing Care (5th ed., p. 351). Elsevier-Health Sciences Division.
Over the years birthing methods have changed a great deal. When technology wasn’t so advanced there was only one method of giving birth, vaginally non-medicated. However, in today’s society there are now more than one method of giving birth. In fact, there are three methods: Non-medicated vaginal delivery, medicated vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery, also known as c-section. In the cesarean delivery there is not much to prepare for before the operation, except maybe the procedure of the operation. A few things that will be discussed are: the process of cesarean delivery, reasons for this birthing method and a few reasons for why this birthing method is used. Also a question that many women have is whether or not they can vaginally deliver after a cesarean delivery, as well as the risks and benefits if it. Delivering a child by a c-section also has a few advantages and disadvantages for both the mother and child; this will also be discussed in more depth a bit later.
This process is called conception, the female is now officially two weeks pregnant and the fertilized egg is called a zygote. Let’s move on to pregnancy. Pregnancy is a state in which a woman carries a fertilized egg inside her body, it usually lasts up to 40 weeks, and it is divided into three trimesters, each lasting three months. The first month. The embryo is about a third of an inch long. The head, trunk, and the beginnings of the arms and legs have started to develop. By this month, the embryo starts to receive nutrients and releases waste through the umbilical cord and placenta. The heart also starts to beat. The second month. The heart is now pumping and the nervous system, including the brain and the spinal cord begins to develop. The fetus is 1 in 2.5cm now and has developed cartilage skeleton. The arms, legs, facial features and other major organs begin to appear. The third month. The fetus has grown up to 4 in 10cm and weighs a little more than an ounce. The major blood vessels are almost completed and the face starts to show up more. The kidneys and the 4 chambers of the heart are now complete. The fourth month. The fetus is now 4 oz of 112g and can kick and swallow. The