Natural induction methods?

rs_bride

Hi, I posted this on the VBAC board, but it's really slow over there and I thought I might find some like-minded women here.I have questions about acupuncture and massage to induce labor.

My son's birth was an incredibly traumatic c-section and I'm hoping against all hope for a vbac this time around. But perhaps even more than the vbac, I want to go into labor on my own (this would be necessary for a VBAC too--my OB would only use a tiny amount of pitocin, if I'm already very favorable)! My OB will let me go to 41+ 2 or 3 days, max. I was induced at 41+2 last time and did not progress. That was after weeks of daily sex, many mile-long walks every day, EPO orally and vaginally, RRLT, etc. The only thing I didn't try was castor oil and I'm not sure I'd do that this time either. Maybe though.

So I've been looking into acupuncture this time around. I just talked to a practitioner. He seemed reasonable and the price wasn't outrageous. The process sort of gives me the heebie jeebies though. He'd start at 38 or 39 weeks, depending on how I'm progressing and also show DH some acupressure points to use both to induce labor and for pain relief during labor.

Any success stories to share? I know I've got a while to think about it. I'm a thinker though and want to have all my options on the table.

Another question--someone told me recently that she thinks a massage put her into labor right before her due date. I can't find any supporting evidence for this, but a weekly massage certainly sounds better to me than acupuncture! Any corroborating evidence to share?

 

3003girl

My midwives warned not to massage - I think it is the ankles? - from 20 weeks or so until after 39 weeks in the pregnancy because it can induce labor. 

You might also get some more responses on the Natural Birth Board - if you want to post again!

Good luck! 

Becid24

1.5 tbsp of castor oil worked for me with all 3 kids. I didn't get terrible cramps or diahrrea like some people are afraid of.  Not saying you won't but just saying how it worked for me. I was fingertip dilated and 30-50% effaced with all 3 before I took it. 

tarahnpaul

First, I would question why your OB only wants you to go to 41+2 or +3.  The vast majority of women (around 95%) go into labor on their own by 42 weeks.  Even the American College of Obstretricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which is very mainstream, doesn't consider a mom post-term until 42 weeks.  I was at northwest women's healthcare on first hill and that is the position they took as well.

I've had a lot of acupuncture and personally I find it very relaxing.  My DH freaked out when he had it.  So there's a range of possibilities.  I'd probably have a little now to see if you are going to like it or not, though.  What I do think helped me go into labor was a membrane sweep sometime between 41 and 42 weeks.

good luck! 

TiffanyBerry

You might want to check, but last I recall, ACOG says that pitocin is contraindicated in VBACs, as it increases (albeit by a very small amount) the risk of uterine rupture.

Acupuncture has a fairly long history of being used to support pregnancy and help start labor.  It's really not as bad as it sounds, I promise!  I did it my whole first pregnancy, and would definitely recommend it.

A massage could help if it was stress that was holding back labor.

NYGirl02

TBH, unless your body is ready, I don't think anything works.  At least it didn't for me.  I think maybe if your body is already ready, some of those things stand a chance.  I was induced at 41 weeks, it didn't work, so I went home and did everything I could to naturally induce labor and still had to be induced again at 42 weeks.  Good luck to you!  My greatest wish is to go into labor on my own next time as well.

bandwife

I had my son at 38 + 3 wks. I have no idea if any of the following contributed but I will list off all the things I did.

• Worked out. I ran up to 6 months then did a rigorous hike twice a week. I walked a lot. I did bootcamp twice a week until 8 months.
• Massage every three weeks.
• Craniosacral Therapy. I did a series of 8 treatments. They were expensive but I felt amazing after them.
  
• I ended up taking Verbena when my water broke and I didn't immediately go into labor. I think one of the reasons it worked, and I was able to have my son at home as planned, was that I'd done a lot of the things listed above. You can read more about that in my birth story linked in my siggy.  

Again, who knows if any of the first three contributed. I really think gestation length is unique to mother and baby. 40 weeks is a myth!

This article in the Guardian on pregnancy length was a good read if you want more to talk about with your doctor.

shabamwam

My water broke naturally 7 hrs after drinking 1/4 cup castor oil with oj. Had my DS 10 hrs later.

sapgirl76

I had acupressure to induce labor and still needed pitocin. My chiropractor was willing to use it on me after I hit 38 weeks, which is when I had DS 1. My OB was going to induce at 39 weeks because of how big DS 1 was at 38 weeks but I told my chiropractor I'd rather try to go naturally instead of getting induced because I hated the pitocin.

I went for an appointment at 38w2d and my water broke the next morning. But, my labor was just like with my first- my water broke but I never started contracting. So it worked to get things started but my body stalled out and I still wound up with pit.