Natural Inductions: Do they really work?
How can we get this baby out?! But make it natural, k? There are SO many suggestions out there indicating that this or that is going to help to effectively start your labor, but how much of that really works? How much of that is coincidence? How much of it just flat out doesn’t work? That’s exactly what we’re going to talk about in this blog post! Let’s cover some of the more common natural ways to induce labor and take a deep dive into whether they are actually effective or not, and how confident we are in saying one way or the other.
What do you mean “natural” inductions?
Before we get into ANY sort of inductions, let me first say that baby will come when baby is ready! Is that what we always want to hear though? Absolutely not! Especially when we are near the end of our pregnancy, waddling around in whatever clothes still fit us, not sleeping well and having every ache and pain imaginable pop up over night! Trust me, I get it!
So, let’s talk about different types of inductions and what it all means.
First, what even is an induction (natural or other)? Induction of labor refers to the medical intervention used to stimulate uterine contractions before labor begins naturally. This can involve various methods to initiate or accelerate the labor process. Sometimes this is indicated when the health of the mother or baby is at risk and you and your provider feel that you do not need to risk going past a certain number of weeks of pregnancy.
Next, what exactly DO we mean by “natural” inductions? And if there’s a natural way to go about this, then what would the alternative be?
Typically, if labor is induced it either is going to happen from a medical provider’s intervention OR from a natural source. When referring to different ways to naturally induce labor, we are referring to non-medical or medical provider interventions. Take a look below for some common examples of both.
Different Ways to Induce Labor:
Let’s talk about two medical interventions used to induce labor:
Membrane Sweep
Pitocin (synthetic form of oxytocin)
Next, find below a compiled list of some more common ways to naturally induce labor:
Dates
Evening Primrose Oil (vaginal suppository)
Sex (stretching perineum, nipple stimulation and orgasm to promote labor through the release of oxytocin)
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Alfalfa
Miles Circuit
Nipple Stimulation*
Acupuncture*
But do they work??
From the list above, the main question is, but do they actually work?? Unfortunately, the studies on the natural options for inducing labor are sparse, and the efficacy is not fully known. But we do know is that they COULD be helpful.
The most significant one that has been shown in studies to promote the onset of labor is nipple stimulation due to it's release of oxytocin. Remember, pitocin is the synthetic form of oxytocin and is what is used to induce labor as well, so it would make sense that the natural form of oxytocin would be found to be one of the more promising options.
Another one I’d like to mention from the list is the miles circuit. There is no HARD evidence for this to induce labor, but there is some anecdotal evidence suggesting it can potentially kickstart contractions by gently nudging baby into a better position, especially if their positioning is hindering labor progress.
So, can we say with 100% certainty that any of these natural methods will work to induce your labor? Likely not with 100% certainty, but we can say that it could help and the evidence to support labor induction with oxytocin release is a bit more promising!
If oxytocin is needed to induce labor, why does it matter if it’s used in its synthetic or natural form?
As mentioned a few times in this blog, oxytocin is a natural hormone in our bodies that, during labor and birth, stimulates uterine contractions. Pitocin is synthetic form of oxytocin and is often given to induce labor, augment labor, or given in the third stage of labor as postpartum hemorrhage prevention or to deliver the placenta.
Pitocin is given through an IV and is often in doses that are much larger than our natural release of oxytocin during labor. This can cause increased strength and duration of contractions. Since Pitocin is synthetic and administered through an IV, it does not cross the ADULT blood brain barrier. This means that you do not get the psycho-emotional benefits of oxytocin during labor or enhanced feeling of calm and connection that goes along with natural oxytocin release.
Because of that, the combination of the increased strength of contractions plus less of the “feel good” hormones can be a cause of more pain and the increased strength and duration of contractions can cause distress on the baby. This also ties into our fear-tension-pain cycle…where we feel fearful, which then causes us to be tense, which then causes us to feel more pain, which then causes us to be more fearful and so on and so forth.
On the reverse side of this, when oxytocin is released naturally, you get both the stimulation of the uterus to contract AND the “feel good” hormones.
Mind Body Core
Whether you're nearing the end of your pregnancy and are just looking for help prepping for labor and birth or you're looking for guidance from start to finish, Mind Body Core has got you!
My MBC Prenatal program includes step-by-step foundational guidance for your core, pelvic floor and more from first trimester through third trimester with dysfunction specific information and strength training through each week! The Prenatal program includes both the Prenatal/Core Mobility program AND the Labor Prep program inside!
However, if Labor Prep is your main focus and you want to cut right to it, I do have the Labor Prep program available as a stand-alone as well! This program and the full MBC Prenatal program both cover everything you need to know about inductions, pain control and so, so much more! Click the button below to learn more!