When expectant mothers are past their due date, many obstetricians look towards medications to induce labor. The fact is many of the medications used are not always the safest way to induce labor; several have serious side effects that can cause complications for the mother and baby. Chemically inducing labor should be the last method considered when inducing labor is necessary.
Despite modern techniques, medical labor induction still introduces considerable risk compared with natural onset of labor. According to the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services first-time mothers have more than twice the likelihood of Cesarean section with induction compared with labor that starts naturally. The risk is not from inducing labor but from the procedure.
Even when using cervical ripening chemicals, sometimes the cervix is just not ready. Using medications to induce labor increases the occurrence to Cesarean sections five times. Also, using medications to induce labor requires constant monitoring. The mother may need to be hooked up to fetal monitors continuously as well as an IV drip, confining the mother to bed and causing further distress.
Induced labors are usually more painful, which can increase the need for epidural analgesia. Epidurals introduce a higher likelihood of adverse effects on the labor, the baby, and the mother. In general studies have shown that inducing labor with chemicals increases remarkably the chance of having a vacuum birth or a Cesarean section.
Cesarean delivery is major surgery, and thus there is a risk of infection of the uterus and nearby organs, respiratory complications and unexpected reactions to anesthesia and other medications during the surgery, such as sudden drop in blood pressure. Babies born by Cesarean section are more likely to develop breathing problems and get low Apgar scores. The low score can be an effect of the anesthesia, or the baby may have been in distress to begin with. It has also been suggested that the baby was not stimulated as he or she would have been by vaginal birth.
Vacuum births commonly cause more damage and tears for the mother. When a vacuum is used as an aid during labor, babies may suffer from injuries including a dislocated shoulder. When inducing labor is necessary, the smarter decision is to consider alternative methods before trying using chemicals.
One of the most studied natural labor induction methods is acupressure. The holistic system of acupressure, used to induce labor, works by building on what the body does naturally. In this way, the use of acupressure can be remarkably beneficial during childbirth. Labor acupressure can be very helpful in descending your baby, dilating your cervix, and starting and making the labor contractions more frequent and successful.
Acupressure for labor has been proven to shorten the delivery time by helping your body to function better and to use its remarkable underlying capabilities. The chances of having a long labor are decreased becauseof this, therefore reducing any distress or suffering to the child.
Accupuncture is an old holistic method to help the body to work better. That's why accupuncture is being used to induce labor as well. Accupuncture is widely used in the East and West and some acupuncture specialists do help expectant women to induce labor when their pregnancies become overdue. They insert very thin needles into specific accupuncture points to induce labor. However, did you know that these accupoints could be treated without any needles? Applying pressure with fingertips on accupuncture points is called accupressure. Indeed, you could use accupressure to induce labor instead of accupuncture, and do it your self, at home!
Accupressure techniques have been around maybe even longer that accupuncture. Maternity accupressure method is proven safe and effective for inducing labor, unlike many other natural labor inducing remedies or medications that can cause a more painful labor and could be risky for both the mother and child.
Maternity Accupressure is both natural and effective. It has been shown to, not only to induce labor, but it makes giving birth easier and helps remove much of the pain associated with childbirth. A common way to start labor is to use chemicals or medications; nonetheless, it does come with its risks. This is a safe and natural way to induce labor without the complications and effects of medications. Accupressure for labor has been used by thousands of birthing women and is safe, effective, and doesn't carry risky side effects.
In fact, many labor health care workers and professionals are recognizing the advantages that labor accupressure techniques offer and are encouraging women who are past their due dates to utilize the benefits of accupressure before agreeing to induce labor with pharmaceuticals.
A recent controlled study shows that women who were given labor accupressure treatments after they were past their due dates experienced a natural onset of labor significantly more often than those women whose accupressure points for labor were not treated (Complement Ther. Med. 2005). This study shows how those who use labor and delivery accupressure methods see better results as opposed to those who don't use accupressure methods.
Studies prove that accupressure helps to encourage the onset of labor while reducing the pain that accompanies it. Several mothers that tried this natural techniques said it was highly effective at helping to start their labor at home and/or at relieving the labor pains. Most of the supporting partners reported that this method gave them tools to be truly helpful during labor. The frustration of not being able to help the birthing mother is common among fathers and other supporting care-givers, and thus this hands-on method gave them a way to actively be part of the unique life event. In addition, several women expressed how impressed they were by their labor partners; the maternity accupressure techniques were easy for them to learn and they were able to help control labor pains making their partners comfortable.