Castor oil, hot baths, and enemas also have been recommended for cervical ripening or labor induction.
There is also no evidence to support the theory that a hot bath will induce labor. While it's fine to take a warm bath while you're pregnant, water that is too hot can reduce the blood flow to your baby, which can cause distress. The temperature of your bath water shouldn't be higher than 98 degrees Fahrenheit.
You may have heard that certain things can trigger labour, such as herbal supplements and having sex, but there's no evidence that these work. Other methods that are not supported by scientific evidence include acupuncture, homeopathy, hot baths, castor oil and enemas.
Another benefit of water immersion is that it can help ripen your cervix and encourage oxytocin release. As your body prepares to give birth, your cervix will begin to soften and open up for your baby to pass through the birth canal. A warm bath can also stimulate the release of oxytocin.
Walking around the room, doing simple movements in bed or chair, or even changing positions may encourage dilation. This is because the weight of the baby applies pressure to the cervix. People may also find swaying or dancing to calming music effective.
For women in established labour, warm water has been found to promote relaxation which may enhance your oxytocin levels and help labour progress. It is a good idea to talk with your doctor or midwife when you are in labour about the appropriate time to consider getting into the water.
It is not uncommon for the cervical ripening to take up to 24-36 hours!! It is also not uncommon to use different techniques to ripen the cervix. You may feel contractions during this process. If the contractions become painful, you will be able to request medication to relieve your discomfort.
Try being upright
One of your biggest allies is gravity. When you are upright—standing, sitting or kneeling—the weight of your baby presses on the cervix, encouraging it to open. An upright position may also help get your baby into the best position for birth.
Some moms-to-be worry that bath water could possibly get into the uterus and harm their developing baby. Fortunately, your baby is protected within your uterus, cervix, and the amniotic sac. So unless your water breaks, your baby is completely separated from the water you're soaking in.
As the baby's head drops down into the pelvis, it pushes against the cervix. This causes the cervix to relax and thin out, or efface. During pregnancy, your cervix has been closed and protected by a plug of mucus. When the cervix effaces, the mucus plug comes loose and passes out of the vagina.
According to Brichter, sitting on an exercise or birthing ball in neutral wide-legged positions prepares the body for labor by increasing blood flow, opening the pelvis, and encouraging cervical dilation. You can also try birth ball exercises such as circular hip rotations, rocking, and gentle bouncing.
The point is located above the ankle on the backside of the lower calf. It's about four finger widths wide above the inner ankle bone. Acupressure is applied by using your index finger to apply firm pressure to this point for a few seconds.
An induction massage is a method or technique used to induce labor through massage. It is an alternative for women seeking natural ways to encourage labor especially if they are afraid of acupuncture. This type of massage is suitable for mothers-to-be who are suffering from anxiety, stress, and fatigue.
Uterine abnormalities and genetic disorders affecting a fibrous type of protein that makes up your body's connective tissues (collagen) might cause an incompetent cervix. Exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic form of the hormone estrogen, before birth also has been linked to cervical insufficiency.
Side-lying release
Not only can this position be used to help engage the baby into the pelvis and to encourage cervical dilation, but it can also be used during labor to help ease discomfort.
- Consistency: Your cervix begins to soften as is prepares for labor. Someone who is not close to labor would have a “firm” cervix, and feels like the tip of your nose. Eventually it starts to soften until it feels more like your cheek, making it easier for other parts of the process to occur.
The bath tub, whether laboring at home or in the hospital, can still be an effective pain relief option. If you get into the tub during early labor, keep in mind that it can slow down your contractions.
Medical cervical ripening
Medications also can be given to help induce softening and dilatation of the cervix. Oral or vaginal suppository drugs, such as misoprostol and other prostaglandins, are also commonly used to ripen the cervix.
Reach to the end of the vaginal canal and feel for the texture and thickness of your cervix. If what you feel is very hard and thick, you're likely not very effaced. If it feels mushy and thin, you may be making some progress.
There are no proven safe ways for a woman to break her water at home. It can be dangerous if the water breaks before natural labor begins or before the baby is fully developed. During the natural process of labor, the water breaks when the baby's head puts pressure on the amniotic sac, causing it to rupture.
Theoretically, the unequal walking pattern created by the curb causes the pelvis to open and allows the baby's head to descend. When the baby's head is deeper into the pelvis, there is more pressure on the cervix, causing dilation and effacement. This uneven walk should be done for about 10 minutes.