Pregnancy takes a toll on a woman's body and spirit. By the time they reach their due date, pregnant women are exhausted; they have suffered with swollen feet, shortness of breath, and fatigue. As their due date near, many women are ready to give birth and are looking for ways to speed up the process. There are many remedies, methods, and even medicines that can be used to induce labor in women who are at or past their due dates. Acupressure is esteemed method that does not come with any side effects or risks.
Acupressure is an all natural method that may be used to induce labor in women who have passed their due dates, to reduce the pain associated with labor, or to help to speed up a labor that is progressing slowly.
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, only acupressure uses the pressure of the fingers and thumbs as opposed to using needles. One of the best features of acupressure is that it is very effective at inducing labor in pregnant women, as well as reducing the pain often associated with labor.
Acupressure points such as "Adjoining Valley", "Shoulder Well" and "Big and High" are associated with using Acupressure for labor.
In Adjoining Valley, the points used in acupressure will stimulate the large intestine meridian. First, locate the part of the hand between the thumb and forefinger. In the area known as webbing, press firmly. The correct area will feel tender. Apply pressure to the Adjoining Valley point is useful technique to get relief from labor pains too.
The Shoulder Well is another great acupressure point to use during labor. Apply pressure to the highest point on the shoulder muscle. To locate the area, use four fingers and measure from the joint of your shoulder, moving in towards your neck. This area will be very tender, and is also effective for managing pain during labor.
The Big and High point is located directly above the back of your heel. It's located between the Achilles' Tendon and your ankle. Apply pressure directly to this spot for the most benefits.
Be assured, labor will progress using these natural methods of inducing, but you will not have the risk of side effects or negative reactions. However, it is important to only use acupressure for inducing labor when you are due or past due and not during your earlier months of pregnancy.
There are many medications used today to induce labor. Many of these medications come with risks or side effect that you may not want to endure or risk for your child. In general, natural labor induction remedies do not have any negative side effects or risks. Some pregnant women have rare, pre-existing medical conditions that limit their choices of labor induction. But, if you have a choice, looking into all the methods and weighing the effects and risks, is well worth your time. Making an informed decision is the best path to choose for both yourself and your baby.
First, you should realize that natural methods for inducing labor work. Therefore, they should never be used during the early trimesters of your pregnancy, and should not be attempted without the approval of your midwife,. Although natural labor methods are powerful, when used appropriately, they have less side effects then medication. Never use natural induction methods during the early months of pregnancy because they could lead to miscarriage.
When you are past 40 weeks pregnant and need to induce labor, natural methods have far less risks when compared to medication. Natural labor inducing methods include acupressure, walking, sexual intercourse, herbs, stripping the membranes, and nipple stimulation. These methods help to start labor through different mechanisms; for example nipple stimulation help increase natural hormones that stimulate labor, such as Oxytocin and Prostaglandins.
Medications used to stimulate labor are synthetic forms of the naturally occurring hormones, Oxytocin and Prostaglandin The brand name form of Oxytocin is Pitocin and the brand name forms of Prostaglandin include Cervidil and Prostin E2. These medications are associated with serious side effects and risks.
First, Pitocin is known for causing uterine contractions that are extremely intense, painful, and last for a long duration. Some other side effects associated with Pitocin include vomiting, nausea, cramping, and stomach pain. More serious side effects have also been reported. These serious side effects and risks include an irregular heartbeat in the mother, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, swelling, headaches, blurred vision, and seizures. There is also a chance that after childbirth the mother may develop severe bleeding.
Unfortunately, Pitocin may also cause serious side effects in your newborn. These include irregular heartbeat, jaundice in the eyes and skin, bleeding in the eyes, and seizures. If you notice any of these side effects in the baby, you must notify your doctor immediately.
Cervidil and Prostin E2 are brand names for the drug, Dinoprostone. These are synthetic forms of Prostaglandins and are also associated with specific adverse reactions. These come in suppository form and when inserted, you must lay down for at least two hours to ensure that he medicine softens the cervix. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the procedure for up to two days.
Both Cervidil and Prostin E2 have been shown to cause nausea and vomiting. Common side effects include lightheadedness, dizziness, fever and chills. Some women may develop diarrhea and a fever as well. More serious side effects include trouble or difficulty breathing and a feeling of tightness in the chest. There are many conditions that may occur in the woman that will attribute to negative and adverse reactions, some of these include heart disease, kidney and pelvic infections, and Diabetes.
Before you or your doctor consider medical induction, it is important that you are informed about the risks and side effects of the medications. One of the worst, and definitely the most disheartening, side effect of medical labor induction is that it could still take days for labor to begin. In some cases it does not even work. Another choice over medication, is using a natural method to induce labor. Most of these methods do not come with the negative side effects.
Lena Leino has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acupuncture Chiropractor, Family and Fitness. Article by Lena Leino, mother and acupressure specialist. Learn more about her and managing labor pains the safe and natural way at her. Lena Leino's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.