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Only in cases where there is danger to the baby for staying in your uterus, there are greater risks to your labor and delivery if you allow your doctor to induce your contractions.
Inductions are more likely to cause your labor to plateau, thus greatly increasing the need for a c-section. Here’s what you can do to prevent the likelihood that you will have an induction.
- discuss your desires with your doctor and support team
- walk as much as possible during the last few months of pregnancy
- relax and keep your stress levels low on a daily basis
Although studies and statistics vary, around 20% of induced mothers end up with a cesarean. For you, that might not be a big risk. Or it is very large and those odds are not what you want to risk for your baby’s birth.
If you decide you’d rather not introduce greater risk, follow these steps outlined. You’ll greater increase your chances of going into labor naturally and having a smoother birthing experience.
Pros & Cons of Induction
The drug used to induce a mother’s labor is called pitocin. It’s an artificial form of your natural hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is the main hormone responsible for starting, progressing, and completing your labor and delivery. It’s also vital later on in breast feeding. It’s the hormone that often called the “love” hormone because you feel good when it’s expressed.
Your main natural stress hormone is called cortisol. When you’re upset or stressed in any way, your levels of cortisol rise. Cortisol and pitocin directly compete with your oxytocin. When there’s an imbalance in your body of these hormones/drugs, your body cannot function as properly as it is able to.
If your body cannot respond as well to the pitocin (because it’s artificial) your labor can stagnate, which increases stress and intensity for you and the baby, which in turn increases cortisol, which can halt your labor, thus leading to the need for a c-section.
The only situation wherein it may be very appropriate to use pitocin for an induction is when there is a medical need for the baby to be born, that they are safer and healthier outside of the mother than inside. Of course, those circumstances are rare. Use your best judgement with your care provider in this case.
Related: Late Pregnancy Symptoms Before Going Into Labor – Signs To Watch For
Discuss Your Desires With Your Birthing Team
If your doctor suggests or desires an induction for you, inquire as to why and the clear reasoning behind it. Be sure you understand the risks involved for both you and your baby.
Most of the time, the conversation about induction is brought up if you’ve hit your 40 weeks and are “late.” Funny thing is, 40 weeks is an average length of time for a pregnancy. So that means mothers birth before 40 weeks and after 40 weeks.
Your baby will come at the right time. The true average for first time mothers is 41 weeks and 1 day. If your doctor insists you be induced, don’t be afraid to press back and say “no” if there is no risk or stress on your baby.
Related: Tips & What To Consider When Choosing Your Prenatal Care Provider
Walk As Much As Possible
During the last month of your pregnancy, your baby drops deep down into your pelvis and the pressure starts to open your cervix during early labor. Movement and fluidity in your pelvic area is not only going to decrease your pain and discomfort, but create a better environment for your body to go into labor on its own.
The only two things that have been scientifically proven to “naturally induce” your labor are walking and sexual intercourse. Feel free to try the latter if you’d like, but the former is always a healthy option too. Walking is great for supporting and progressing a healthy active labor for the same reasons before you’re in labor.
Related: 8 Ways To Ensure Baby’s Head Will Engage
Relax and De-Stress Daily
In order to keep your cortisol levels low, de-stressing and staying in a positive state of well being is vital. The higher your cortisol levels, the more difficult it is for your body to go into labor naturally and continue through to birth.
So take this time to relax and pamper yourself with whatever physical and mental support you need. It’s important, worth the time, and never a bad idea. Here are a few of our favorites:
- soak in the tub with lavender and bath salts
- get a prenatal massage or a facial
- read your favorite book or watch a sappy movie
- get a pedicure and manicure, especially because you can’t reach your toes right now
- journal or take up your favorite creative activity
- snuggle with your significant other show increased affection
- enjoy a date with your friends or even alone by yourself
Related: Guided Imagery Relaxation Techniques For Labor
How I Avoided An Induction
With my first baby I was almost at 40 weeks when my doctor said if he hadn’t been born within the next week, he’d want to induce me. I wasn’t having that. So I walked for hours and hours that weekend, probably more than I had the entire month previous.
Then, yes, I had a romp in the sack with my husband at the time. So I cannot tell you which exactly did the trick, because I did both. Sure enough, that Sunday morning at 4 am, I went into labor naturally.
Now, I also cannot know for sure if I would have gone into labor even without the sex and walking. But that’s my story and I found that in my case, it proved useful and there was a correlation in timing that fits.
Related: Sarah’s First Natural Birth Story
Your Best Natural Odds To Prevent An Induction
Your body, your baby, and your own personal pregnancy situation is unique to you. Walking and sex may or may not work well for you to naturally induce your labor. You may not even need to do either.
Consider your situation, the risks, your desires, and have faith in your actions and that everything will work out well no matter what happens. When you follow these steps, you will only have more positive results that going without. So there’s only benefit and upside, which is always desired.
In Conclusion
Being induced when there is no medical harm pressing upon your unborn baby will increase your chances of a stalled labor and a subsequent c-section. If this isn’t your desire, you can:
- discuss your desires with your doctor and support team
- walk as much as possible during the last few months of pregnancy
- relax and keep your stress levels low on a daily basis
These steps will increase your chances of going into a natural labor healthily, without stress, and lead to a much more enjoyable and smoother labor.
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