by Carol Swift

Created on: July 29, 2009

Inducing labor prematurely is not a wise idea. The old saying most women grow to know and hate - 'babies will be born on their own schedule' - does contain some truth. Some women, even though they feel ready to literally pop at 38 weeks, might need more time before the baby will be ready to be born.

Remember that some medical procedures might have possibly negative side effects. See your doctor if there is any doubt in your mind. These methods might help induce labor but always verify with a doctor.

Relax! - One of the key ingredients fora successful labor is being relaxed. If you are upset or worrying too much, your body is not going to start labor. If you've been worried about learning how to induce labor, don't forget to take a deep breath and relax - this will be over soon. How about a hot shower or watching a favorite movie? Otherwise how about doing some of you favorite activities.

Physical Activity - Could it be your labor is slow because your baby is not descending? If so, try some simple physical movements. Doing light physical activity like easy jogging, swimming, or skipping can do the trick. This is because as you move around, so does your baby, and it might get into a better position to descend. Plus the physical activity can make you feel much better all around in general.

Acupressure - Acupressure is practiced in Chinese traditional medicine and involves applying pressure using your fingers to certain parts on your body. By stimulating certain places, some women go into labor within a few hours. It's a very simple process and induces labor in more than 80% of women who are ready. It also has the added bonus of being a natural pain killer.

Nipple Massage - Many doctors induce labor by using pitocin because it helps contractions. Well, no need to go to your doctor for it - pitocin is the manufactured form of the hormone called oxytocin, a chemical your body creates every day. To start releasing it into your bloodstream, try massaging and stimulating your nipples. This stimulation should cause elevated levels of oxytocin in your bloodstream and could kick-start your labor.

These are the main methods to understand when wanting to know how to induce labor. Remember that very soon, your pregnancy will be complete and you'll get to hold your newborn child. It may seem like you're going to be pregnant forever but trust me, it's done before you know it. Good luck!

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