In some cases, labor in pregnant women may not start on its own, then the medical practitioner may have to use medication or other preferable techniques to induce or bring on contractions. The doctor may use the same methods as well to accelerate if for some reason it halts or stops progressing. United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in the year 2006 that, more than one out of five births in the United States was induced, and this rate doubled from the year 1990. Thus knowing how to go into labor early is necessary.
When Do I Need to Go Into Labor Early?
Your medical practitioner may recommend induction in some cases where the potential risks of waiting for labor to begin independently are higher as compared to the procedures used to induce labor. Induction will be recommended in the following cases:
- When you realize that you are still pregnant past the due date. Medical experts advocate for an induction immediately if this happens, since if you wait any longer, you may have more problems for both you and your baby.
- If your water breaks and the labor haven’t started yet, in this case you will need to be induced in order to decrease the risk of infection in your uterus and your baby as well. However, if your baby is premature, induction may not be performed.
- When tests reveal or show that your placenta has problems or isn’t functioning properly, or you have very little amniotic fluid, or even when your baby isn’t growing as supposed.
- If you develop pre-eclampsia which is a serious condition that can endanger both your and your baby’s health, it restricts blood flow to the baby.
- If you have an acute or a chronic illness, i.e. high blood pressure, diabetes or even a kidney disease which threatens or endangers both your health and that of the baby.
- You have had a still birth previously.
In addition, you may be induced for logistical reasons, i.e. if you live far from any medical center, in this case you may have to be induced earlier than 39 weeks; however, a fetal lung maturity test should be carried out to determine whether it’s safe or not. This decreases the potential risk of induction on a baby whose lungs haven’t developed.
Want to know more about the things you should know before trying to go into labor early? Check this video out:
How to Go Into Labor Early
1. Home Remedies
Before you go for natural labor induction, it is important to have the necessary information regarding this induction method. You should also keep in mind that this is just a helping hand and may even refuse to bring the labour on. However, if you are not sure of natural induction, then you can consult your doctor. In terms of how to go into labor early, here are some of the natural induction methods:
|
Methods |
Description |
|
Acupuncture |
This is a practice which involves insertion of needles into specific points on your body. It’s thought to stimulate the energy to act on a specific organ function. |
|
Walking |
The pressure which is generated by the baby’s head on the cervix from the inside could as well stimulate the release of oxytocin. |
|
Sex |
Having sex when you have a big bump can be tricky sometimes, but it triggers the release of oxytocin hormone, leading to contractions. |
|
Nipple stimulation |
This act stimulates the suckling of the baby, and leads to release of oxytocin hormone responsible for initiating contractions. |
|
Herbal remedies |
Blue cohosh and black cohosh prove to be much stronger than the homeopathic remedies and should be used with a lot of caution since some have been linked with baby complications. |
|
Castor oil |
The concept behind how this method works is not known, but it’s said to stimulate the tummy and your womb as well will kick starting labor. |
|
Curry |
Eating some spicy foods with curry may stimulate the tummy and the uterus leading to labor. |
|
Pineapple |
The bromelain enzyme that is contained in the fruit is thought to soften the cervix which could kick starting labor. |
|
Raspberry leaf |
Its leaf can be taken in tea or in a tablet form; it stimulates the uterus leading to labor. |
|
Homeopathic remedies |
Pulsatilla is one remedy that is used. Although mums find them very useful, there is no proven evidence that they actually work. You should consult your doctor before you begin using the homeopathic remedies. |
2. Medical Methods
Beside the natural methods, there are the most suitable and safest labour inductions that can be done in a medical setting. Here are some of the medical methods which can be of help when it comes to how to go into labor early:
- Use of prostaglandins. If you have to go into labor early and your cervix isn’t dilated yet, you can be admitted in a hospital and your caregiver will begin by inserting medications which contain prostaglandins into your vagina. It ripens the cervix as well as stimulates contractions.
- Using a foley catheter. Your medical practitioner may use a catheter which is a small deflated balloon-like instrument instead of medication to help ripen the cervix. When the balloon gets inflated with water, it presses the cervix stimulating the release of prostaglandins and softening and opening the cervix.
- Sweeping or stripping of the membranes. In case your cervix is dilated, there will be no need for induction; however, your doctor can insert their finger through the cervix to manually separate the amniotic sac from the uterus. This may lead to release of prostaglandins which may help you go into labor early.
- Rupturing the membranes. In case you are a few centimeters dilated, your medical practitioner may insert a small and hooked plastic instrument to break your amniotic fluid. It causes more discomfort, but it makes you go into labor early.
- Using oxytocin (Pitocin). Usually the doctor may decide to give you oxytocin using IV pump to start off your contractions, and this can be adjusted according to the progress of your labor.
Are There Any Risks Associated With Going Into Labor Early?
Although induction is regarded as safe, there are some risks which may be associated with it, and vary greatly according to the type of methods and an individual’s specific condition or situation. Prostaglandin, oxytocin and nipple stimulations occasionally lead to contractions that are strong and last for a long time. This can stress your baby in the womb. However, prostaglandins or oxytocin do rarely cause placental abruption or uterine rupture. In addition, misoprostol, a common prostaglandin is associated with high rate of rupture in women who attempt a vaginal birth after caesarian.
The process of induction can take long especially if starting from unripe cervix, and this can impact you and your partner psychologically. If the induction doesn’t begin you may be in for a c-section which may come with its own complications.
