natural induction methods

so i have been at 50% effaced for the past 3 weeks. I am 2cm dilated as of last week, and I know until I fully efface I cannot progress past 3ish centimeters.

I am looking for natural induction methods since i do not want a pitocin induction on the 22nd. In fact I am debating not showing up for it. So what do you suggest? I have red raspberry leaf tea, i know that doesn't start labor, just tones the uterus. I have evening primrose oil that I just bought to help ripen my cervix the rest of the way. How much should i take vaginally and how long would it take to get from 50% to 100% effaced.

I am desperate here.

 

why is your doc inducing? remember, if there isn't a medical indication (heck, even if there is a medical indication & you just don't want to) you are within your rights to refuse the induction.

unfortunately, i don't have any specific info on evening primrose oil, but here's the handout i give my birth clients on self-induction when they go post date:

SELF INDUCTION METHODS*

*from Simkin, Penny. The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions, 3rd Edition. Boston: The Harvard Common Press, 2008. Print.

Before using these techniques to start labor, make sure the mother discusses them with her caregiver. She should ask the caregiver whether there is any reason that she should not try to start contractions, using the methods described here. If there is none, you and she can get started.

Nipple Stimulation. Stimulating the mother's nipples causes the release of oxytocin, a hormone that contracts the uterus. Taking advantage of this physiological connection between breast and uterus may start labor or at least cause some contractions. Nipple stimulation probably will not work, however, if the mother is currently breastfeeding a toddler, in which case her body has adapted to increased levels of oxytocin, or if her cervix has not ripened or thinned significantly. Her caregiver can tell her how ready her cervix is after a vaginal exam.

Either you or the mother can stimulate her nipples, in one or more of the following ways, to bring on or intensify contractions:
Lightly stroke, roll, or brush one or both nipples with the fingertips. Or you can caress, like, or suck her nipples. Often, within a few minutes the mother will have stronger contractions. You or she may need to continue this stimulation intermittently for hours to keep the contractions coming.
Massage the breasts gently with warm, moist towels for an hour at a time, three times a day.
Use a gentle but powerful electric breast pump with double-pumping capability (which allows you to pump both breasts at once). A manual or battery-operated breast pump is less likely to work as well as one with a wall plug. Pump one breast for a half hour three to five times per day, pausing when a contraction begins and resuming when it stops. If no contractions occur within about 10 minutes, try pumping both breasts, pausing with each contraction. If necessary to increase the intensity or frequency of the contractions, continue pumping during as well as between contractions.

With all these methods, start with one nipple. If stimulating only one nipple does not initiate contractions in a reasonable length of time, or if the contractions the mother is already having do not increase in frequency, length, or strength, try stimulating both breasts at once, between contractions at first, and then, if necessary, continuously. If there are no contractions, after an hour or two, wait a half day before trying again, or try some of the other methods.

Precautions when using nipple stimulation. Many caregivers are very comfortable with their clients' use of nipple stimulation to bring on labor, but others are wary, because stimulating the nipples sometimes causes excessively long or strong contractions. These caregivers worry that strong contractions may stress the fetus, especially if the mother is at high risk for complications. Before approving the use of nipple stimulation, the caregiver may want to check the baby's response to such stimulation by having the mother try it first during electronic fetal monitoring in the hospital or office.

To help avoid excessively strong or long contractions, it is wise to time the length and assess the intensity of all contractions resulting from nipple stimulation. Stop stimulating the breasts if contractions become painful or long (more than 60 seconds).

Walking. Although effective in speeding a slow labor, walking is unlikely to get labor started. If you want to try anyway, take the mother for a fairly brisk walk, but don't go too far away from home or the labor room. If nothing else, walking is a pleasant distraction before labor.

Acupressure and acupuncture. Certain acupressure (shiatsu) points can be activated to stimulate contractions. See pages 156 to 157 (Comfort Measures hand out).

Acupuncture is the use of fine needles (sometimes combined with heat or electrical stimulation) to painlessly stimulate specific points along the 12 meridians along which vital forces (called chi) flow. The purpose is to remove any blockage in energy flow that may impair bodily functions. Acupuncture is becoming increasingly available for all sorts of health purposes, including many related to pregnancy and childbirth. Among them is the need to start labor.

Although acupuncture is not a method of self-induction, it is usually arranged by the baby's parents, with the knowledge and approval of the mother's caregiver. If the mother is interested in trying acupuncture, check with her midwife, doctor, doula, or childbirth educator for names of licensed acupuncturists who work with childbearing women. Treatment varies depending on the acupuncturist's training and the perceived cause of the problem.

Sexual Stimulation. Sexual intercourse with orgasm is the most effective form of sexual stimulation in starting labor. Orgasm causes the release of oxytocin and contractions of the uterus, and it may also cause the release of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that soften the cervix. Semen also contains prostaglandins.

Clitoral stimulation by hand or mouth, even without orgasm or intercourse, may also be somewhat effective in bringing on contractions.

If you choose one of these methods of stimulation, make them as pleasant as possible. Try to forget your goal of starting labor, and free yourselves to enjoy the sexual experience – more than once, if needed.

There are a few precautions to follow when using these methods:
Avoid placing anything within the vagina if the membranes have ruptured, because doing so would increase the risk of infection.

Do not blow into the vagina.

Modify or avoid these methods if either of you has any sores that could spread or if the mother has an uncomfortable vaginal condition.

Bowel stimulation with castor oil. The mother may be able to start labor by taking castor oil to stimulate and empty her bowels. A laxative, castor oil may cause powerful contractions of the bowels and diarrhea (reactions vary, but the effects can be quite unpleasant for a few hours). The oil has been used for generations to induce labor, with some success. Taking castor oil may increase the mother's level of prostaglandins, which are produced when the bowels contract. Prostaglandins, again, cause the cervix to soften and thin.

Make sure the mother checks with her caregiver before using castor oil. If the caregiver approves, follow these guidelines:
Give the mother 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) of unflavored castor oil to start. The oil is more palatable if you mix it with an equal amount of orange juice and a teaspoonful of baking soda; stir the mixture, and tell the mother to drink it quickly. Or try scrambling the oil with two eggs or mixing it with root beer in an ice cream float.
A half hour later, if she has had little or no reaction, the mother may take 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) more of the oil in any of the same ways.
After another half hour, she may take 2 tablespoons (1 ounce) more. She may take no more than three doses, totaling 4 ounces.

Contractions may come immediately, but usually they don't. When the method works, contractions pick up within half a day. Sometimes castor oil fails to get labor started but does improve the readiness of the cervix to dilate, and labor is started the next day through nipple stimulation or another method.

Enemas, previously used for starting labor, have been found ineffective for this purpose, even though they do help to empty the bowels.

Teas, tinctures, herbs, and homeopathic remedies. Some midwives and physicians use certain herbal teas or tinctures, such as blue and black cohosh tea and evening primrose oil, or homeopathic remedies, such as caulophyllum, to bring on or speed up contractions. Use these teas or tinctures only with the approval of the mother's caregiver and the guidance of an experienced herbalist or homeopath who knows about appropriate dosages and potential side effects.

 

It is not a bad thing to wait it out. My sister took the castor oil with her first and it worked.

 

thanks for the info rachel, i am trying the sex thing.....but OMG is that uncomfortable. I will ask my ob tuesday about the other things (ie nipple stimulation) since I am at risk of placental abruption.

he wants twins born by 38wks at the latest due to placental deterioration. If I haven't made any progress from last week on tuesday, I am going to tell him to schedule an ob appt and more NSTs and lets give it a few more days.

 

i can only imagine how uncomfortable it must be! you are a brave woman.

gotcha. it's so tough because you're always weighing the pros & cons of every decision & trying to make the best decision for you & your situation. here's another excerpt i love to give my clients from that same book that can help you get lots of info to help make an informed decision:

KEY QUESTIONS FOR INFORMED DECISION MAKING

When a test is suggested, ask:
What is the reason for the test? What questions will it answer?
How is the test done?
How accurate or reliable are the results? Is there a margin of error? In other words, might the test miss a problem that exists, or indicate a problem that does not exist?
If the test detects a problem, what happens next (for example, further testing or immediate treatment)?
If the test does not detect a problem, what happens next (for example, a repeat test in a day or two, other tests, or no further concern about the problem)?
What will the test cost the mother, if anything?

When a treatment is suggested, ask:
What is the problem, and how serious is it?
How urgent is the need to begin treatment?
What is the treatment, and how is it done?
How likely is it to solve the problem?
If the treatment fails, what are the next steps?
Are there side effects to the treatment?
Are there any alternatives (including waiting, doing nothing, or other treatments)?

In most situations, there is plenty of time to discuss these questions. In an emergency, however, there may not be time. The caregiver should tell you how serious and urgent the situation is. If it is urgent, you must trust the caregiver. A full explanation may have to wait until the emergency is over.

 

Yeah to everything MissBossy said!

I had luck with castor oil, pretty much as recommended above. But I was at 38w56d and having some early labor already.

Good luck in whatever you decide!