Promote labor

Promote labor

Labor is a phenomenon at the end of pregnancy that is triggered by the hormone oxytocin.

In most cases, they appear on their own. However, it may also be necessary that the contractions should or must be encouraged.
One possible option is then medication to induce labor. But there are also many home and food products that promote labor that can start labor or make weak labor worse.

Before taking any of these measures, this should be discussed with the midwife or gynecologist in order to rule out any danger to the child.

What can you do to encourage labor?

• Administration of medication to promote labor (oxytocin or prostaglandin)

• Consumption of food that promotes labor

• Raspberry leaf tea or weh tea

• Labor cocktail

• castor oil

• Walks, climbing stairs, cleaning windows

• circular movements on an exercise ball, belly dance

• Nipple massage

• Cervical massage

• Foot reflexology or abdominal massage

• Acupressure

• to bathe

• homeopathy

Read more on the subject at:

• Induce labor
• The birth
• Proper breathing at birth

Labor tea

There is not just one contractions tea. Depending on the source and the experience of the midwives, the recipes can be very different.

What they have in common, however, is that the individual components of labor tea are known to be able to trigger contractions.

Two examples are given below. For one thing, tea made from raspberry leaves alone can stimulate labor. It is also said that drinking tea can widen the cervix.

These effects have not been scientifically proven, but there are numerous experience reports.

Therefore, you should first discuss with your gynecologist or midwife whether it is sensible and harmless to try to promote labor with tea. During the rest of the pregnancy, up to the due date, large quantities of the tea should be avoided in order not to accidentally induce premature labor.

Another recipe combines the raspberry leaves with cloves, ginger and cinnamon.

The first three ingredients mentioned are placed in a tea egg and poured with hot water. The cinnamon can then be added directly to the tea water. Experience reports say that if several cups of this tea are consumed throughout the day, labor can be triggered within one to two days.

More information on this topic: Use tea to stimulate labor

These home remedies encourage labor

There is a long list of home remedies in the literature that can help promote labor.
Many of these home remedies are explained in detail in their own sections.

This includes, for example, certain foods that are known to be able to trigger labor, as well as massages of different body regions.

In addition to foot reflexology or acupressure, a short massage of the abdomen, for example with almond oil, can stimulate labor.

Sexual intercourse can also have a positive effect on labor. The hormone oxytocin, which is largely responsible for labor, is increasingly released. In addition, the sperm contain so-called prostaglandins, which soften the cervix.

Read more on the topic: Home remedies that promote labor

Can cinnamon cause contractions?

Experience reports confirm that taking cinnamon can trigger labor in some women.

Cinnamon does not necessarily have to be eaten in its pure form. Eating pastries containing cinnamon, for example, seems just as effective.

An alternative to this can also be the consumption of cinnamon tea.
For the tea, a couple of cinnamon sticks are crumbled and then hot water is poured over them. After about 10 minutes you can take the cinnamon sticks out of the tea water again.

Before trying to stimulate labor with cinnamon, this should be discussed with your gynecologist or midwife. They can check beforehand whether the baby is ready for birth or whether one should wait a little longer.
So far, however, there is still a lack of good quality scientific studies to clearly prove the effect of cinnamon on labor and also to uncover possible side effects. Choosing the right cinnamon is also important.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) specifically recommends Ceylon cinnamon for pregnant women. Compared to cassia cinnamon, Ceylon cinnamon contains only a few coumarins. Larger amounts of coumarins can cause nausea, vomiting or headaches in sensitive people. They also have a toxic effect on the liver and kidneys.

You might also be interested in this topic: Contractions

to bathe

A short bath can relax the muscles in the pelvic area and thus give the uterus the impetus to start labor.

The bath water should have a temperature of around 38 degrees Celsius. You can easily check the temperature with a bath thermometer. A few drops of essential oil can also be added to the bath water.
Lavender oil, for example, is ideal here.You should also be careful not to stay too long in the bath water so as not to overload your circulation in this phase of pregnancy. For this reason, if possible, a second person should be nearby during the bath. In this way, she can quickly intervene and help with circulatory problems.

The warmth can also help distinguish between pre-contractions and real contractions. The warmth of the bath water usually makes the pre-contractions disappear. This does not happen in real contractions.

Do you have anymore questions? Further information on this topic can be found here: Induce labor - when, with what and what are the risks?

Move

Exercise can be a very good way to stimulate labor or to support weak labor.

Any form of movement should only be carried out in moderation so as not to strain the body, as it will still need all of its power reserves during the later birth. For example, easy walks are recommended. The child's head is positioned even better in the pelvis by the walking movement and a stimulus is set by gravity, which can lead to the start of labor.
However, you shouldn't go for a walk to remote places and it is best to have someone with you, in case you suddenly go into labor while walking.

Climbing stairs or cleaning windows have a similar effect to going for a walk. Since these two movements can quickly become strenuous, care should be taken to keep them in good measure. Overexertion also has a negative effect on the promotion of labor and can delay it.
Pelvic circles or crawling on all fours are also reported to have a comparable effect to walking. The circular movements in particular can bring the baby's head into a good birth position and then exert pressure on the pelvis.

Also read the article: Labor pains

homeopathy

There are some homeopathic foods that can potentially promote labor.
First of all, you should seek advice from an experienced gynecologist about the best supplements and the correct dosage. The gynecologist can then immediately weigh up whether the benefits of the homeopathic remedies can outweigh any risks.

Possible preparations are, for example, Pulsatilla or Caulophyllum. The preparations can be taken individually or in combination, or dissolved in water.

It should also be mentioned that there is currently no scientific proof of the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies.
Numerous studies have shown that the effect of homeopathy does not go beyond the placebo effect. Especially during pregnancy, the principle of avoiding such additives or drugs if possible, as many active ingredients are transferred to the unborn child via the placenta, applies. For this reason, homeopathy should also be handled carefully.

How can you promote contractions after a ruptured bladder?

After a ruptured bladder, natural contractions usually start within 24 hours. If this is not the case, help must be given, otherwise the risk of infection increases.

A peculiarity occurs if the rupture of the bladder occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy. Then one would try to keep the pregnancy going for as long as possible. The reason for this is that the lungs are not yet sufficiently mature and this could be problematic in the event of premature birth. As a prophylaxis against infection, an antibiotic is given and the contractions are inhibited accordingly with medication.

In addition, there is another drug that promotes the baby's lung maturity in the event of a premature birth.

In the case of premature rupture of the bladder after the 37th week of pregnancy, the aim would be to give birth quickly. The contractions can then be promoted with the measures described. For example, a breast massage is a good option.
Nothing should be inserted into the vagina and as few examinations as possible should be carried out. Often, however, there is no need to take any further measures to promote labor, since 95% of women who ovulate prematurely go into labor within 24 hours.

You might also be interested in these topics:

• Labor pains
• initiate birth

Foods that promote labor

Food that promotes labor should not be consumed at all or only in small quantities until the due date. If you want to stimulate labor externally, you can try to stimulate labor by consuming the following foods.

• Unripe papaya contains latex, which is known to cause the uterus to contract.
• Many spices, such as ginger, cinnamon, coriander, curry, marjoram or cloves are also said to have a stimulating effect on labor.
• This is also the case with sugar substitutes, such as those contained in various light products or chewing gum.

For more information read: Use tea to stimulate labor

Exercise ball

The exercise ball, just like a walk or other circular movements, can help to optimize the position of the child's head, which then helps promote labor.

To do this, sit on an exercise ball and make slow circular movements. If you cannot keep your balance safely, a second person should help out to avoid falling.

Reflexology

There are two pressure points that are intended to stimulate labor and lower the child's head into the pelvis as part of a foot reflexology massage.

The spleen pressure point 6 can be used to promote labor. To find it, start at the ankle. From there, measure three fingers' widths along the shin and then hike back towards the Achilles tendon.
There is a pressure-sensitive point, which is intended to soften the cervix during massage and promote weak contractions.

The second point (bladder 60) lies between the ankle and the Achilles tendon, i.e. slightly below spleen 6.

A massage of this point should help to guide the child's head into the correct position, which can also lead to the promotion of labor.

You may also be interested in this topic: Breathe in contractions

Nipple stimulation

Careful massage or stimulation of the nipples can lead to an increased release of the pregnancy hormone oxytocin.

Since oxytocin is the driving hormone for labor, nipple stimulation can also be used to promote labor.

However, you shouldn't over-irritate the delicate skin around the nipple, as this can cause pain when breastfeeding.
Therefore, nipple stimulation should only be attempted for a few minutes.

Acupressure

Acupressure is based on the stimulation of certain points on the body through pressure or massage.
The points lie along so-called meridians from Asian medicine and are also used in acupuncture.

A popular pressure point to promote labor is the colon 4 point.
It lies between the thumb and forefinger. The contractions can be triggered by even pressure and circular movements.

If acupressure does indeed induce a contraction, pause should be taken until the contraction subsides.

Then acupressure can be resumed. There are also pressure points in the shoulder and pelvis area.

These labor-inducing drugs / medications exist

Among the drugs that promote labor, the hormone oxytocin should be mentioned primarily.
It is also released from the body and then causes the contractions to start rhythmically, the milk ejection takes place after the birth and it has positive effects on the relationship of the mother to the child and also to the partner.

If labor does not start properly, oxytocin can be given via a permanent perfusor. The hormone is continuously administered through the vein. This is also called the contraction drip.
Medication to promote labor may be necessary if the placenta is no longer showing sufficient blood flow to supply the baby well.
Even with gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, as well as premature rupture of the bladder without subsequent labor, it may be necessary to stimulate labor with oxytocin.

Another drug that can be given in these situations is prostaglandin. One is there directly through the vagina. This has the advantage that there are hardly any effects on the body, but the drug is difficult to control.

In addition to medication, there are other means that can promote labor. These include, for example, castor oil or a labor cocktail. These home remedies should only be taken under the supervision of a gynecologist or a midwife.

Learn more about:

• Medication to promote labor
• What is a contraction drip?