Induction Information
IUGR - New topic for prenatal info.
Culture of Induction- offers a wonderful article on the
Prematurity Prevention- Why 39 Weeks is Best for your Baby
5 Reasons to Avoid Induction Labor - The Risk of Inducing Labor
Hazards of Induction of Labor - A CIMS Fact Sheet
Avoiding Induced Labor Is More Beneficial To Moms And Babies - Medical News Today Article
Labor Incucing Food - LA Weekly Blog
Link for Foley Catheter Induction:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2811%2961484-0/fulltext
http://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/contemporary-obgyn/news/transcervical-foley-balloon
Bulletin on Foley Catheter:
Official topic from UpToDate®, the clinical information service on the web and
mobile devices. To subscribe to UpToDate®, visit us online at
http://www.uptodate.com/store.
The Transcervical Foley Balloonhttp://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/contemporary-obgyn/news/transcervical-foley-balloon
By: Sarah J Kilpatrick, MD PhD and Tania F Esakoff, MD
Techniques for cervical ripening prior to labor induction
Author
Deborah A Wing, MD Section Editor
Charles J Lockwood, MD Deputy Editor
Vanessa A Barss, MD
http://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/contemporary-obgyn/news/transcervical-foley-balloon
Bulletin on Foley Catheter:
Official topic from UpToDate®, the clinical information service on the web and
mobile devices. To subscribe to UpToDate®, visit us online at
http://www.uptodate.com/store.
The Transcervical Foley Balloonhttp://contemporaryobgyn.modernmedicine.com/contemporary-obgyn/news/transcervical-foley-balloon
By: Sarah J Kilpatrick, MD PhD and Tania F Esakoff, MD
Techniques for cervical ripening prior to labor induction
Author
Deborah A Wing, MD Section Editor
Charles J Lockwood, MD Deputy Editor
Vanessa A Barss, MD
Natural Induction Methods
Natural induction is an intervention and like all interventions, it carries risks. It is best to wait until your due date before trying any natural induction, unless your caregiver is insisting on a medical induction that you are hoping to avoid. All natural induction techniques should be discussed with your doctor or midwife. Time is the best natural method to induce. Babies come when they are ready and your body is ready. Use caution if attempting any of these. Always weigh the risks and benefits.
For almost twenty years, pregnant Angelenos have been making the pilgrimage to Caioti Pizza Café in Studio City for a salad that is rumored to induce labor. Link for their website
Walk
Staying active and moving your pelvis can help the baby engage and encourage contractions to start or strengthen. Walk along a curb, one foot up on the curb and the other one in the gutter, then turn around and go the other way. Sounds strange but it can really work.
Bumpy Car Ride
The combination of movement and relaxation (someone else should be driving) can help the baby get into the right position for birth. You should have something on the car seat to protect it in case your bag of waters releases.
Relax
Anxiety can delay the onset of labor. Fill the tub with comfortably warm water, turn the lights off, light some candles and play your favorite relaxing music.
Visualization
While you’re relaxing in the tub, imagine your uterus contracting as well as the process of labor and the joy of holding your baby in your arms.
Nipple Stimulation
This is one of the safest forms of induction because it uses the mother’s natural oxytocin. One popular method is to apply warm compresses to your breasts and alternately stimulate each breast manually or using a breast pump for 15 minutes each until contractions begin. Another, gentler method is to get into a tub of comfortably warm water. Soak a dish towel or washcloth in the waters, and drape it over the breasts. Roll one nipple in your fingers, through the towel, for up to 15 minutes, or as long as it takes to make a contraction happen. When the contraction begins, stop the stimulation. After it ends, wait about 5 minutes before stimulating the other nipple, and repeat the process for and hour. Then take a break for 3 or 4 hours, and begin again. This is not as hard on the nipples as using a breast pump, and may work as well or better.
Electric Breast Pump
This is how most midwives recommend using a pump:
1) pump for 45 minutes and take a 15 minute break
2) pump on 1 side at a time, stop pumping when a contraction starts
3) switch sides every 5 minutes or after a contraction
It usually takes 4-6 hours to get a regular pattern going. After 6 hours if contractions aren't getting regular or closer together, quit for the day, the oxytocin receptors in the uterus are saturated.
Exposure to oxytocin "upregulates" the receptors, so pumping the next day should be much more effective.
The timing of the sessions and the breaks is important. Oxytocin has a very short "half-life", meaning it doesn't stay in circulation very long. Switching is to save the nipples (they will take a beating - use lots of lube).
Pumping one side at a time prevents hyperstimulation of the uterus.
Once labor is established, sometimes a few hours later, contractions slow down again. Simply do another session until contractions are back to normal.
For almost twenty years, pregnant Angelenos have been making the pilgrimage to Caioti Pizza Café in Studio City for a salad that is rumored to induce labor. Link for their website
Walk
Staying active and moving your pelvis can help the baby engage and encourage contractions to start or strengthen. Walk along a curb, one foot up on the curb and the other one in the gutter, then turn around and go the other way. Sounds strange but it can really work.
Bumpy Car Ride
The combination of movement and relaxation (someone else should be driving) can help the baby get into the right position for birth. You should have something on the car seat to protect it in case your bag of waters releases.
Relax
Anxiety can delay the onset of labor. Fill the tub with comfortably warm water, turn the lights off, light some candles and play your favorite relaxing music.
Visualization
While you’re relaxing in the tub, imagine your uterus contracting as well as the process of labor and the joy of holding your baby in your arms.
Nipple Stimulation
This is one of the safest forms of induction because it uses the mother’s natural oxytocin. One popular method is to apply warm compresses to your breasts and alternately stimulate each breast manually or using a breast pump for 15 minutes each until contractions begin. Another, gentler method is to get into a tub of comfortably warm water. Soak a dish towel or washcloth in the waters, and drape it over the breasts. Roll one nipple in your fingers, through the towel, for up to 15 minutes, or as long as it takes to make a contraction happen. When the contraction begins, stop the stimulation. After it ends, wait about 5 minutes before stimulating the other nipple, and repeat the process for and hour. Then take a break for 3 or 4 hours, and begin again. This is not as hard on the nipples as using a breast pump, and may work as well or better.
Electric Breast Pump
This is how most midwives recommend using a pump:
1) pump for 45 minutes and take a 15 minute break
2) pump on 1 side at a time, stop pumping when a contraction starts
3) switch sides every 5 minutes or after a contraction
It usually takes 4-6 hours to get a regular pattern going. After 6 hours if contractions aren't getting regular or closer together, quit for the day, the oxytocin receptors in the uterus are saturated.
Exposure to oxytocin "upregulates" the receptors, so pumping the next day should be much more effective.
The timing of the sessions and the breaks is important. Oxytocin has a very short "half-life", meaning it doesn't stay in circulation very long. Switching is to save the nipples (they will take a beating - use lots of lube).
Pumping one side at a time prevents hyperstimulation of the uterus.
Once labor is established, sometimes a few hours later, contractions slow down again. Simply do another session until contractions are back to normal.
Reflexology to induce labor
If you need help getting your labor started, the answer may be in your feet. Reflexology has been shown to help induce labor and reduce pain during childbirth. In fact, more and more nurses are beginning to learn this specialized type of foot massage and are using it in delivery rooms around the world to ease their patients’ discomfort and reduce the length of labor.
While reflexology is best known as a specialized type of foot massage, it is performed on the hands as well. Reflexology is similar to acupressure because it applies pressure to specific points on the body, but reflexology doesn’t work with the body’s energy flow in the same way as acupressure. Reflexology is based on certain reflex areas on the feet and hands that directly affect the organs and muscles of the rest of the body.
Little is more relaxing than a foot massage, but reflexology is even more effective because it pinpoints the specific areas that will help move you toward a faster delivery date.
Try these points on yourself, and if a contraction begins, stop the pressure. When the contraction stops, apply pressure again. Of course, avoid all of these reflexology points until you are past your due date – at least your 41st week. You certainly don’t want to rush the baby before its time.
Inside Heel
Press this point just inside the heel of each foot. You can’t mistake it when you have found the right spot because it should be quite tender.
Arch of the Foot
This point will also be tender, and it is located in the arch of the foot just in front of your heel. At no time should the pain be very intense, however. Your pressure should be firm, but apply less pressure at first if it hurts too much. You will no doubt find that as the tension releases, you can begin to apply more pressure and release deeper tension. This point is also very effective for dealing with the pain of intense contractions while you’re in the delivery room. Be sure your partner knows this one!
Between the Big and Second Toes
This point is about one finger-width below the space between your big toe and your second toe. Again, when you have found the right spot, it will be tender.
Thumb Point
This point is probably the most effective one for inducing labor. It affects the pituitary gland, which releases oxytocin, the natural hormone in your body which is responsible for uterine contractions. Press firmly on the center of the thumb for at least three minutes. Then, switch to your other thumb.
Reflexology is also great during childbirth, and your partner will feel more helpful in the delivery room if he has learned these techniques. Applying pressure to any of these points will help to reduce your pain while keeping your contractions frequent and successful.
If you use both reflexology and acupressure points to speed your labor after your due date has passed you by, you are almost guaranteed to reach the delivery room more quickly and definitely more naturally.
Recipe to Ripen Cervix Naturally:
Take evening Primeose Oil
- 1 cap orally breakfast,
- 1 cap orally lunch,
- 1 inserted vaginally before going to bed
While reflexology is best known as a specialized type of foot massage, it is performed on the hands as well. Reflexology is similar to acupressure because it applies pressure to specific points on the body, but reflexology doesn’t work with the body’s energy flow in the same way as acupressure. Reflexology is based on certain reflex areas on the feet and hands that directly affect the organs and muscles of the rest of the body.
Little is more relaxing than a foot massage, but reflexology is even more effective because it pinpoints the specific areas that will help move you toward a faster delivery date.
Try these points on yourself, and if a contraction begins, stop the pressure. When the contraction stops, apply pressure again. Of course, avoid all of these reflexology points until you are past your due date – at least your 41st week. You certainly don’t want to rush the baby before its time.
Inside Heel
Press this point just inside the heel of each foot. You can’t mistake it when you have found the right spot because it should be quite tender.
Arch of the Foot
This point will also be tender, and it is located in the arch of the foot just in front of your heel. At no time should the pain be very intense, however. Your pressure should be firm, but apply less pressure at first if it hurts too much. You will no doubt find that as the tension releases, you can begin to apply more pressure and release deeper tension. This point is also very effective for dealing with the pain of intense contractions while you’re in the delivery room. Be sure your partner knows this one!
Between the Big and Second Toes
This point is about one finger-width below the space between your big toe and your second toe. Again, when you have found the right spot, it will be tender.
Thumb Point
This point is probably the most effective one for inducing labor. It affects the pituitary gland, which releases oxytocin, the natural hormone in your body which is responsible for uterine contractions. Press firmly on the center of the thumb for at least three minutes. Then, switch to your other thumb.
Reflexology is also great during childbirth, and your partner will feel more helpful in the delivery room if he has learned these techniques. Applying pressure to any of these points will help to reduce your pain while keeping your contractions frequent and successful.
If you use both reflexology and acupressure points to speed your labor after your due date has passed you by, you are almost guaranteed to reach the delivery room more quickly and definitely more naturally.
Recipe to Ripen Cervix Naturally:
Take evening Primeose Oil
- 1 cap orally breakfast,
- 1 cap orally lunch,
- 1 inserted vaginally before going to bed
Looking for a doula Contact us:
Lysa Quealy CD(DONA), CMT, HBHD
Beach City Doula
643 S. Butte St. (at 7th St.)
San Pedro, CA 90732
Telephone: 310-831-5700
contact us
the South Bay and Los Angeles areas.
Torrance, Hollywood Riviera, Rancho Palos Verdes, Palos Verdes,
Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Harbor City, Lomita, Culver City,
El Segundo, Mar Vista, Gardena, Carson, Long Beach, Lakewood
