Ways To Induce Labor

So you are at least 40 weeks pregnant and feeling tired, cranky and swollen, with difficulty sleeping, pain in your back, bulging varicose veins, constantly having to pee...well maybe it's not that bad, but seriously, you are at the end of the pregnancy and really just want the baby OUT!!

Perhaps you have had a discussion with your doctor about a possible medical induction and feel you need to find ways to induce labor at home that would be a more natural and safe alternative.

You've probably come across many of the more popular suggestions such as bumpy car rides, squatting, walking, eating spicy foods, and of course having sex. That last one doesn't often appeal to women at this stage of their pregnancy, but expectant dads are usually quite willing to give it a try!

One of the ways to induce labor that you may have heard about involves using herbal products such as Black or Blue Cohosh.

You should be aware that there are risks associated with using herbal formulas even though they are natural "plant based" products. These remedies are extremely powerful and while they are not regulated in the same way as pharmaceutical medicines, they have properties equivalent to prescription medicines and must be given under strict supervision by a healthcare provider or experienced herbalist.

For instance, Black Cohosh can cause excessive bleeding. If you should take it and end up having to get a C-section, there is a very real risk of major blood loss that could require a blood transfusion.

Similarly, Blue Cohosh has been know to cause problems to the baby's heart and must also be taken only under strict supervision.

Another of the ways to induce labor that is fairly popular is taking Evening Primrose Oil which is an excellent source of prostoglandins. This helps to soften and ripen the uterus and can be used by inserting a capsule into the vagina or putting the oil on your fingertips and applying it directly onto the cervix.

Red Raspberry Leaf tea is quite often suggested as a way to induce labor at home. This method is certainly worth a try as it is easy to accomplish and may promote a bit of relaxation which is always helpful.

One of the best ways to induce labor that has been studied and proven to be safe and effective is labor acupressure. This method can easily be learned with a simple step by step guide and it has several useful benefits. By using the fingertips to press on certain sensitive spots on the skin, the cervix can begin to dilate and contractions get started.

The added benefit is that these techniques can also be used to reduce the level of pain during labor and also to promote relaxation. These added benefits make labor acupressure one of the most popular new ways to induce labor when faced with an overdue pregnancy.

Before continuing, I'd like to share this tip with you.

When I began looking for tips on ways to induce labor at home, I had already heard of many of the suggestions that I came across. But then I stumbled onto a site that discussed the benefits of labor acupressure and suggested that it can help start the labor process and also reduce some of the pain experienced during the actual labor.

Of course I was a bit skeptical, but decided I had nothing to lose and certainly not much time to waste. So I got the ebook and we learned the acupressure techniques through the easy to follow, step by step guide.

I know it's hard to believe, but I went into labor less than 48 hours later.

I have to thank Lena Leino, the author of this fantastic ebook which was written in such an easy to follow manner.

I think it truly is one of the best ways to induce labor because it is safe, effective and easy to do.