Inducing Labor Naturally: Herbs to Successfully Support Child Birth
Many women lack the hormones that would cause them to naturally enter labor once it is time for a baby to be born. This, among other factors in the current medical paradigm, cause innumerable unnecessary interventions into the natural process of childbirth – namely an alarmingly high rate of Cesarean-sections. Luckily, there are natural ways to induce labor.
It is estimated that more than 32% of women who give birth in the US now undergo this often dangerous, and always expensive procedure. This is much higher rate than many other countries with low infant mortality rates. Furthermore, many women are given an oxytocin injection, or Pitocin, to cause labor.
But this causes contractions which can be out of rhythm with the uterus, thus causing significant pain to the mother and less-effective contractions that elongate labor and delivery.
There are many natural ways to induce labor in a woman who has difficulty. Drinking raspberry leaf tea, dancing, walking, and even engaging in coitus have been known to start the process. Another great way to induce labor naturally is with the herb called Comfrey Root. This perennial herb also helps with infections and promotes healing. Comfrey Root works when taken orally as a way to soften and open the cervix, or can be utilized in a bath by women who suffer perennial tears from giving birth.
The age-old wisdom for incorporating Comfrey Root into a birthing experience is to add four ounces of dried leaves to a half gallon of boiling water. Once the leaves begin to wilt in the water, turn down the heat to a low boil and allow to steep for eight hours. You can sit in the liquid once it has cooled as a sitz bath for fifteen minutes twice a day. You can also add chamomile and shepherd’s purse to the tea to make it extra soothing for wound treatment.
Of course there are additional methods to inducing labor naturally. One small study at the University of North Carolina found that women who got acupuncture were more likely to go into labor without a medical push, while other research points to acupressure as a possible solution.
Here is a list of ways that may help induce labor naturally:
- Herbs such as blue cohosh, black cohosh, raspberry leaf, castor oil, comfrey root, and primrose oil
- Walking and dancing
- Acupuncture
- Acupressure
- Sex
- Massage
- Pineapple
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