Save this article
Use this article for free on your own website
Republish this article for free on your own website or blog. Or search or browse for more articles that your audience will appreciate. Huge choice available. Ideal for finding quality, free content. Read our publishers guide.
Ways To Induce Labor Naturally Are Worth Considering
Natural ways to start labor should be taken into consideration when making the decision to induce labor. Medications used today come with negative side effects and risks that mother and baby may not be willing to take; while methods to start labor naturally do not have these risks. Natural ways to start labor have more benefits than medical induction.
It is important that you have all the information when considering inducing labor. Although there are many medications that can do this, inducing labor naturally may be the better alternative for you. The benefits of naturally inducing labor far outweigh the negative aspects of some medications. Before choosing to take a medication, you must first consider all of the risks and side effects it may have on you and/or your baby. Unless you have a pre-existing medical condition that requires medical induction; the natural methods are well worth looking into.
First, you should realize that natural methods for inducing labor work. Therefore, they should never be used during the early trimesters of your pregnancy, and should not be attempted without the approval of your midwife,. Although natural labor methods are powerful, when used appropriately, they have less side effects then medication. Never use natural induction methods during the early months of pregnancy because they could lead to miscarriage.
When you are past 40 weeks pregnant and need to induce labor, natural methods have far less risks when compared to medication. Natural labor inducing methods include acupressure, walking, sexual intercourse, herbs, stripping the membranes, and nipple stimulation. These methods help to start labor through different mechanisms; for example nipple stimulation help increase natural hormones that stimulate labor, such as Oxytocin and Prostaglandins.
Medications used to stimulate labor are synthetic forms of the naturally occurring hormones, Oxytocin and Prostaglandin The brand name form of Oxytocin is Pitocin and the brand name forms of Prostaglandin include Cervidil and Prostin E2. These medications are associated with serious side effects and risks.
First, Pitocin is known for causing uterine contractions that are extremely intense, painful, and last for a long duration. Some other side effects associated with Pitocin include vomiting, nausea, cramping, and stomach pain. More serious side effects have also been reported. These serious side effects and risks include an irregular heartbeat in the mother, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, swelling, headaches, blurred vision, and seizures. There is also a chance that after childbirth the mother may develop severe bleeding.
Unfortunately, Pitocin may also cause serious side effects in your newborn. These include irregular heartbeat, jaundice in the eyes and skin, bleeding in the eyes, and seizures. If you notice any of these side effects in the baby, you must notify your doctor immediately.
The drug Dinoprostone is also known as Cervidil and Prostin E2. These are synthetic forms of Prostaglandins and are also associated with specific adverse reactions. These come in suppository form and when inserted, you must lay down for at least two hours to ensure that he medicine softens the cervix. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the procedure for up to two days.
Nausea and vomiting are common adverse reactions to Cervidil and Prostin E2. Fever, chills, lightheadedness and dizziness are also common reactions. Some women may develop diarrhea and a fever as well. More serious side effects include trouble or difficulty breathing and a feeling of tightness in the chest. There are many conditions that may occur in the woman that will attribute to negative and adverse reactions, some of these include heart disease, kidney and pelvic infections, and Diabetes.
If you or your doctors are considering medical labor induction, you need to be aware of the associated risks and negative reactions of these pharmaceuticals. One of the worst, and definitely the most disheartening, side effect of medical labor induction is that it could still take days for labor to begin. In some cases it does not even work. As an alternative to labor induction medication, there are many natural methods for inducing labor that do not have these types of side effects.