Preparing your body for labour
As you approach full term you may start to wonder if there is anything you can do to help your body prepare for labour. Women have been engaging in preparation techniques for a long time and have passed ideas down through the generations. In this post I'll make some suggestions.
Preparing techniques
(Important disclaimer: talk to your midwife before beginning any of these treatments).
1. Raspberry Leaf Tea
This is a mild-flavoured tonic that enhances uterine toning in preparation for labour (it does not start labour). It is not recommended in the first or second trimester due to its effectiveness. You can start drinking 1-2 cups of Raspberry Leaf tea every few days from 35 weeks. From 37 weeks you can increase this to 1-2 cups daily. Raspberry Leaf tea will tone your uterus to promote an efficient, shorter labour. It is available from some supermarkets and health shops.
2. Acupuncture
An acupuncturist can provide therapy to aid in cervical ripening. They can also show you and your partner acupressure points to assist with cervical ripening and dilation before and during labour, and to promote the onset and strength of contractions.
3. Evening Primrose Oil
The evidence is not strong for or against evening primrose oil, but there is anecdotal evidence that these capsules may encourage cervical ripening which can increase the likelihood of going onto labour. From 37 weeks you can take these capsules both vaginally to work locally on the cervix, and orally. Evening Primrose Oil contains prostaglandin type properties that promote softening and effacement of your cervix in preparation for labour.
4. Nipple Stimulation
This can be effective because it increases your hormonal level of oxytocin - the hormone responsible for labour contractions. It is best tried when you are having Braxton Hicks tightenings as this is when your body is most likely to respond to the stimulation. Nipple stimulation for 5 minutes or so, repeated a few times within the hour, may push you over the edge and into labour if your body is ready.
5. Optimal Positioning
Encouraging your baby to stay in an anterior position can encourage a shorter latent phase and bring the possibility of labour closer because in this position the baby is putting direct and balanced pressure against your cervix. Optimal positioning can be promoted by regular walks but don't overdo it - hikes are not ideal when you are very pregnant and have tender, stretched ligaments. You can also sit upright and forwards more often rather than reclining to let gravity help.
6. Homeopathy
If you can find a licensed homeopathist they can provide you with remedies which are suitable for encouraging labour. These remedies are usually taken while you are having Braxton Hicks contractions (much like nipple stimulation). Be careful to take as directed.
Old wives tales...
Most of these are harmless but there are some you may want to not pin a lot of hope on.
1. Castor Oil
It used to be widely promoted that women drink castor oil to induce labour. This works by causing contractions of your bowel and as your bowel lies behind your uterus, the contracting signals may be passed to your uterine cell fibres causing them to contract too. Much like the passing of an electrical current. Its not known to be effective at inducing labour though and you are much more likely to just end up with a sore tummy and perhaps very loose stools for a while.
2. Sexual Intercourse
This is thought to work for a number of reasons and a key one is that sperm contains small amounts of prostaglandin type properties to help with cervical ripening. There is no harm in giving this a go and it has many other benefits, though you'd really need to do this a lot for it to have any effect on preparing for labour.
