How to Encourage Labor
How to Encourage Labor
(for overdue moms or slow labors)
Having sex: With your hips elevated on a couple of pillows or in hands and knees position and definitely with an orgasm!
Induction Massage, Acupuncture: Schedule this body work for when you are 41 weeks. Do daily Ankle and foot rubs or Reflexology: Massage ankles and feet with massage oil + 2 drops of nutmeg essential oil
Knee Chest Position: Exercise is done on all fours with the chest dropped forwards and on pillows and not on elbows. 20-40 minutes at a time, 2 times a day
Nipple stimulation: Pull on nipples to simulate a baby nursing. This releases the oxytocin hormone. One minute every 5 minutes for one hour only or until labor is established
Strong Red Raspberry Leaf tea: Six cups a day
Hot baths/ showers: A hot bath in a clean tub is preferable if membranes haven't ruptured. Lay all the way down, on your left side with your belly completely covered with water. Roll up a towel under your head. Stay in for half an hour or more
Walking: One mile, twice a day
Squatting: Heels flat on the ground. Twice a day for ten to fifteen minutes
Wearing a Maternity Belt: Over the top of the belly will place pressure on the cervix and stabilize the baby'‘s position. Many times this will induce contractions. Wear when up an about, not while sleeping
Enemas: Triple H enema (high, hot, and a lot) made with strained labor tea. Make a pot of strong labor tea and when it is cool to moderately hot, pour it into enema bag. Administer slowly. Hold for five minutes while lying on your side on a towel on the bathroom floor
Castor oil: ***CALL MIDWIFE BEFORE DOING THIS*** Castor oil is not my preferred method of induction and may bring labor on quickly if it isn’t your first birth, Start in the morning. Repeat one hour later. Sometimes it takes six to ten hours to take effect, other times it takes effect within half an hour.
Step 1: Mix 2 ounces of castor oil with 2 ounces of pure grape juice
Step 2: Add 1 tsp of baking soda
Step 3: Stir and drink quickly
Black and Blue Cohosh Tinctures: Blue cohosh is an oxytocin enhancer and black cohosh causes blood vessels to contract. 20 drops of each on a spoon of warm water held under the tongue for 1 minute every hour, up to 8 doses
Caulophyllum and Cimicifuga: Homeopathic pillules of blue and black cohosh. Dissolve 6 pellets of each under tongue every hour, up to 8 hours
Cayenne and Lobelia Tinctures: 20 drops of each under the tongue every half hour, hold under the tongue for a full minute. Swallow and then take nothing by mouth for 15-20 minutes
Labor Tea: Stimulant for circulation. Consists of red raspberry leaf, spikenard, squaw vine (partridge berry), blue cohosh (do not use if mother has high blood pressure), shepherd' s purse, black cohosh. 2 tbsp per quart of water, 4-6 cups a day
Be patient. Trust in a higher timing. Babies come when they're ready.