Your physician cannot tell you exactly when or how your labor will begin, which is the hard part for most expectant moms. The uncertainty of labor can make most moms nervous enough to question how to start labor at home. While most home methods of inducing labor are safe, you must first decide if it is the right time to begin labor. If you have reached or passed 37 weeks in your pregnancy induction methods may be tried but are still not recommended until you have gone past your due date.

If you experience any of these health problems in your pregnancy that can pose a threat to you or your baby, your physician may recommend artificially starting labor before your due date.

• Toxemia
  Pregnancy induced hypertension, known also as toxemia or pre-eclampsia is a very dangerous and threatening condition if not monitored carefully by your doctor. Symptoms include high blood pressure, swelling of the face, hands, and feet and high protein levels in your urine. Doctors are still unsure of what exactly causes toxemia but they do know that it can have deadly consequences if not treated properly.
• Gestational Diabetes
  This condition can have serious consequences for the mother. Women with gestational diabetes are at risk for having babies that can be too large to deliver safely. Some health care providers may recommend inducing labor before your due date to prevent the baby from becoming too large or to prevent the possibility of a caesarean section.

Your due date is an estimated 40 weeks from the date of conception. If your pregnancy goes passed 42 weeks, it is possible that your baby is still healthy and just needs more time in the womb. However, going passed 42 weeks can also have negative consequences on the health of your baby. Most physicians will induce labor to not allow a pregnancy to reach or go beyond 42 weeks.

• Overdue Baby
  If your pregnancy reaches or surpasses 42 weeks the placenta may not be able to continue to sufficiently supply your baby with enough oxygen and nutrients. Again, most physicians will induce labor before this point to ensure the baby does not suffer from inadequate nutrition.
• Large Baby
  If your health care provider feels that your baby may become too large for you to deliver, he may want to induce labor early. As with gestational diabetes, when the baby becomes too large to deliver safely, a c-section may be ordered to deliver the baby. Ultrasound technology can give a very good estimate of the size of your baby before you deliver, but they are not exact measurements. Your baby could weigh up to a whole pound more at birth than the ultrasound determined. This is especially true if the ultrasound is done before the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, when your baby is significantly building up his fat supply.

How to Start Labor

If you and your physician have determined that it is safe to start labor, there are several methods to choose from to begin the process.

• Natural herbal/homeopathic techniques If you have ever wondered how to start labor at home there are some natural methods you can use to stimulate contractions and get your body ready for labor. Meditation in a dark and quiet room helps the body eliminate stress and get ready for the birthing experience. Taking a dose of castor oil can stimulate the uterus to contract. Black and blue cohosh can also bring on contractions.
• Natural, physical methods
  Sexual intercourse has been known to cause contractions to begin. Certain hormones in a man’s sperm and female orgasm can cause uterine contractions and the cervix to thin and dilate. Nipple stimulation causes the release of oxytocin, a hormone which is known to trigger contractions. Doctors also recommend walking to put more pressure on the pelvis and get the body ready for birth.
• Artificial Methods
  The body will only begin the labor process when the cervix is ready, meaning when the cervix is thin and soft. If you need to be induced, your health care provider may administer a treatment that will cause the cervix to become ready for labor. One example, cervidil, is a cream that is applied directly on the cervix. Many women are given a drug called Pitocin, which is an artificial form of the natural female hormone oxytocin. Pitocin is administered through an IV and aides in the onset of contractions.

There are always risks associated with labor induction, whether it is performed at home or by a physician. For the safety of you and your baby, be sure the home methods you choose are approved by your health care provider.

Labor will not begin or progress if you are stressed so don’t try too hard to bring on contractions. Expectant moms should instead treat themselves to a warm bath with aromatherapy, a relaxing pre-natal or belly massage or even acupuncture.  Meditation can also help relax the body and mind while visualization techniques help you get in touch with your baby, as you envision her being born.

These techniques will help get your body and mind ready to try other methods of inducing labor at home. Doctors will warn however, to use caution with any home method of inducing labor and to only begin these techniques when you have reached at least 37 weeks in your pregnancy.

Physical Stimulation

Sexual intercourse is the most commonly known method of inducing labor at home. A male’s semen contains a hormone called prostaglandins, which is known to aid in the onset of labor.  The longer the semen stays on or around the cervix the better it will thin the cervix and help cause it to dilate. When the expectant mom has an orgasm, this can also cause the cervix to dilate and can stimulate the uterus to contract.

Nipple stimulation releases the hormone oxytocin which will prompt contractions. Rubbing the nipple between your fingers or placing a hot towel on your breasts can trigger the release of oxytocin.  Doctors will recommend that you only use nipple stimulation sparingly in a day so as not to bring on such strong contractions before you can reach the hospital.

Walking has also been recommended by physicians as a way of naturally and safely inducing labor. Walking or gentle bike riding will put pressure on the cervix and help the baby “drop.”

Diet Changes, Herbs, and Oils

Spicy food has been known to help some women naturally induce labor. Eating spicy food will stimulate the bowels which will in turn stimulate the uterus and help it to contract. Some tropical fruits such as kiwi and pineapple contain enzymes that can trigger the uterus to mildly contract.

Evening Primrose Oil and Castor Oil can also be used to naturally induce labor. Mixing a dose of Castor Oil with another liquid, such as juice, makes it easier to drink and digest. Like spicy food, the oil will help stimulate the bowels and uterus.

An herbal specialist can provide you with special plant roots called cohash. Blue and black cohash have been said to aid in inducing labor at home though there are few studies or fact to prove their effectiveness.

Once again, you should always consult with your physician before experimenting with any of these home
methods of inducing labor. They can tell you what is best and safest for you and your baby.

I used to spend long days in my living room, sitting on my favorite couch researching ways to speed up the whole process. Let me tell you something.. I could NEVER find anything useful! Absolutely nothing was helping me. Everything I found was nonsense that I already knew. If I did find something that I thought was actually useful, I would have to spend a lot of time putting the pieces together. It was never laid out in an easy way to understand. That was a big pain, especially when I was 38 weeks and counting down by the second!

This is why I decided to start the Induce Labor Tips blog. I did so much research that I could easily write a 1,000 page book on inducing labor and I have to admit that my work was worth it…I was holding my baby within a few days. =)

But I don’t want you to spend all of your time researching like I did. I want this blog to be your “home”. I want you to feel comfortable and know that you will be receiving the best information about inducing labor. These techniques actually work and don’t have any risk at all. (That was very important to me…) These are just some little tips that you can use to make the whole process run a lot smoother and make you feel much better about it all. (Remember, I was in the same position as you!)

I will be posting stuff up from day to day to help you out and get you holding that baby as soon as possible. Here’s some of the topics I’m going to cover: How to Induce Labor, Natural Ways to Induce Labor, Castor Oil to Induce Labor, Acupressure to Induce Labor, and so on.. I think you get the point. Pretty much anything in the topic of Inducing Labor, hence the name of my blog.

So now I want you to get started with this whole inducing labor process! Look for the categories section, it will either be on the left or right of this post, and pick the topic that you want to learn about!

See you then!