Download the Handouts Here:
Scroll down to find Abbey’s Encouraging Labor Protocol
At Home Options
“Acupressure draws upon the same concepts as acupuncture, but it uses firm massage and pressure from the hands instead of needles.
There is strong evidence to support the use of acupuncture for certain health conditions, but scientific research on acupressure is still in its infancy and has had mixed results to date.
However, some studies on acupressure have had promising results, and some women say that it is the only thing that helped them go into labor.”
Always clear using the midwives Brew with your care provider! Also if you use the brew: drink it then go straight to bed to rest because you will likely be in labor 4 hours or less after drinking.
“In fact, 58% of the people who received castor oil began active labor within 24 hours compared to only 4% of those who received no treatment, but they did find a side effect. Far more people in the castor oil group reported experiencing nausea. A hundred percent of the participants in the castor oil group had nausea compared to 0% in the other group. [inaudible 00:05:03] conducted a randomized trial in Iran that included 43 pregnant participants total. They found a significant increase in labor initiation during the first 24 hours for people in the castor oil group. About 54% of them went into labor within 24 hours compared to 4% of the control group. The mean Bishop score, or average Bishop score, also increased in the castor oil group.”
I do not recommend eating Dates before 36 weeks to be safe!
“Randomized trials have found that eating date fruit in late pregnancy, around 60-80 grams a day of date fruit, may increase cervical ripening, reduce the need for a medical labor induction or augmentation, and one small study found a positive effect on postpartum blood loss. However, nobody’s looked at this in women with gestational diabetes, so if you have gestational diabetes, these results probably don’t apply to you. Also, these studies were small and they had limitations, including you can’t blind people. You know if you’re eating dates or not, so people in the research studies and the mothers may have known that they were eating dates, which may affect the results. It may lead to some bias, and we didn’t look at the women’s diets outside of the date fruit.”
“Many essential oils are safe to use during labor and delivery. Aromatherapy can help make you more relaxed and comfortable. You can reap the benefits of most essential oils just by smelling them.
Ask your doctor about using essential oils during labor well before your due date. You may not be able to bring your own essential oils into the delivery room. (If you have a C-section, you can’t bring anything into the sterile operating room.)
Note that essential oils are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any kind of treatment, although many clinical studies have noted the benefits of aromatherapy. More research is needed on essential oils for labor — and many other uses.”
“There is almost no research on this topic. The one randomized trial that found the EPO did improve cervical ripening, but it made no difference in how quickly women into labor. The birth center study found more labor complications or a trend towards more labor complications in the group that took EPO. The case report of the baby with skin problems after their mother took EPO is troubling, but we can’t know for sure if the EPO is related to that or not. So at this time the use of EPO during pregnancy or to induce labor is experimental mostly based on anecdotes and we don’t have any scientific evidence that it is effective or safe.”
“If a mother is using breast stimulation to augment labor, it is probably best if the laboring person is with a care provider who can monitor the uterine activity and look out for any potential fetal heart rate problems as needed. A variety of techniques are described in the research evidence but researchers consistently recommend that women focus only on one breast at a time and include rest intervals. Researchers seem to agree that people who have high risk pregnancies should not use breast stimulation to induce labor until there’s more evidence that it’s safe in this population. Since this seems to be a pretty effective way to induce labor, it seems only right that someone should probably be talking with their care provider about if they’re going to be doing this so that they can get their care provider’s advice for their specific situation.”
“Researchers think there’s three ways that sex could possibly affect natural labor induction. The prostaglandins in the semen, orgasm that stimulates uterus activity, and the increase in natural oxytocin from sexual activity.
In summary, it’s safe to attempt unprotected, vaginal sex as a means to induce labor, as long as the membranes are intact, the sexual partner has been tested for sexually transmitted infections, and there are no other health concerns.”
Medical Options
– This is often used as a method of induction or augmentation of labor. A plastic hook will be inserted and used to snag the membrane of your baby’s sac and tear a hole in it.
– Breaking waters will make your contractions very strong, it also might make them feel more painful because you loose the cushion of the waters to soften the intensity of the contractions.
– If you choose this method make sure that you have been in a good pattern of managing the contractions if you’re augmenting. If you are inducing, after the bag of waters is broken, be very proactive on contraction management to handle the extra intensity.
– Foley Bulb is a great induction method because it can be stopped as easily as it is started. Whereas with chemical induction methods you have to wait for the effects to wear off in your system.
– Along with the foley bulb you can do breast pumping, lunges, and upright positions to help it along.
– Benefits: It is easy to start and stop, it is a more mild form of induction.
– Risks: Discomfort with inserting and possible with it while it is in.
– This is where your care provider will insert a finger and separate your baby’s sac from the wall of the uterus. Basically stirring the pot to agitate your body into labor.
– Benefits: Carries very low risks compared to other methods, lowers your risk of stronger induction methods, and does not cause abnormally strong contractions.
– Risks: Infection, excessive vaginal bleeding, and the unintended rupture of the amniotic sac.
– This is not a strong method so it is possible that it will not work. If you choose this method doing deep lunges, breast pumping or nipple stimulation, and relaxing can help it be more effective.
As with all induction tricks this one is far more likely to be effective if it is done after 40-41 weeks.
“…One study showed that 90% of those who had a membrane sweep gave birth by 41 weeks compared to 75% who did not have the procedure…”
“…31% of participants said it was not painful, 51% said it was somewhat painful, and 17% said it was painful or very painful.”
– This is a synthetic oxytocin gel that is applied to your cervix.
– With this method you cannot choose to discontinue but have to wait for the effects to wear off.
– Benefits: The contractions should begin slowly, and you may be able to go back home for a few hours after the gel has been put in place. In some women, prostaglandin gel alone can be enough to stimulate the cervix to open
– Risks: Uterine hyperstimulation and possible fetal distress.
– If you are wanting a natural labor be proactive at managing the contractions during the early labor. The practice will help as they get more intense. Deep breathing at the start, during, and after contractions. Choose positions that are comfortable for you.
– This is a pill that is taken or inserted into the vagina. It is known to make stronger than natural contractions and can raise your risk of uterine abruption according to The Chochrane Library.
– Go over dosing and whether inserting or ingesting is best for your circumstances.
– If you are wanting a natural labor be proactive at managing the contractions during the early labor. The practice will help as they get more intense. Deep breathing at the start, during, and after contractions. Choose positions that are comfortable for you.
– Risks: Uterine hyperstimulation. Rupture or perforation requiring uterine surgical repair. Hysterectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy.
– Pitocin is introduced through an IV. It can be given in low doses to begin with.
– Pitocin can be turned off but it does take some time to work out of your system.
– Ask your doctor about doing low doses and then ceasing it when contractions are regular.
– Pitocin increases general risks of uterine rupture, Epidural use, and Postpartum Depression. So discuss with your provider what the actual risk for you is and how to be prepared for it.
– If you are wanting a natural labor be proactive at managing the contractions during the early labor. The practice will help as they get more intense. Deep breathing at the start, during, and after contractions. Choose positions that are comfortable for you.
“We found another study of more than 7,000 births. This one was not randomized, but they were simply documenting the practice in a setting and they found that Pitocin was misused 21% of the time, meaning it was used for Pitocin augmentation when the medication was not needed, when labor was progressing normally and quickly…”
Abbey's Encouraging Labor Protocol
Step One: Rest
This is my recommended protocol for encouraging labor. Only do this protocol if you are: feeling rested and energetic, preferably over 40 weeks gestation, and mentally/emotionally ready to start a process that might take 1-3 days. After you have completed each step, in order, you can start from the beginning again when you are ready. it may take 1-3 tries of this protocol. If at any point during this protocol you are having regular contractions do not do step 4 and focus on rotating through steps 1-3. If you follow this protocol exactly it will take anywhere from 4-6 hours to complete.
No matter what time of day you are starting to encourage labor, always start with at least 1-2 hours of rest. If sleeping is not possible put on a meditation track and rest in a dark room. This will increase your oxytocin levels which will help your body accept and go into labor.
Essential Oils:
*I recommend these oils be rubbed on your belly and ankles before laying down to rest or when you get up:
1. Jasmin
2. Clary Sage
3. Lavender
4. Geranium
5. Frankincense
*Optional: Talk to your care provider about taking any of the following during, before, or right after Step 1.
Step Two: Eat/Hydrate
Next eat a hearty meal and hydrate with a hydration multiplier. Best meals to consider is anything that is high in protein and something that you enjoy. Avoid any foods that could cause constipation or stomach irritation. This will help stock up your energy reserves for labor and make all other steps more effective. Continue to snack lightly after you start having contractions. As labor Progresses you will feel less and less like eating. Good snack ideas are any fruits and nuts.
Step Three: Balance
You don’t want to start labor with a baby that is in a less than ideal position if you can avoid it. To do this I recommend the following 3 steps.
1. Side Lying Release: 10 minutes on each side.
2. Forward Leaning inversion: 3 times
3. Miles Circuit: displayed here on the right
Step Four: Oxytocin
Steps 1-3 are preparing your body for labor. This step is encouraging your uterus into activity, which will hopefully encourage it into labor. Get comfy and try any of the following to encourage labor. Don’t do any of these without first doing steps 1-3. and avoid doing all of them at the same time.
Nipple Stimulation:
First Time: 15 minutes stimulation on 1 side then switch to the other side for 15 minutes. Try this for 1-2 hours.
Second Time: 15 minutes on both sides, rest for 15 minutes. Try this for 1-2 hours.
Midwife’s Brew:
Midwife’s brew is 85% effective at starting labor. I do not recommend taking castor oil straight, make the shake and drink it. If you are prone to intestinal discomfort then consider cutting the castor oil amount in half. You can always increase it next time you try this protocol. DO NOT take castor oil more than once in a 24 hour period.
Sex with Orgasm:
Remember that the most important part of sex to encourage labor is the orgasm, followed closely by your partner’s semen inside you. Semen has elements in it that encourage cervical ripening. If penetrative sex is not enjoyable right now then focus on you orgasming.
Pressure Points:
Rub the oils that I mentioned in step 1 all over your belly, wrists, and ankles. Also consider diffusing them in the room.
*If you find the contractions are too intense, stop any efforts to strengthen them and rest. If they fade away you can resume or start the entire protocol over again.
After you have completed this protocol I strongly encourage starting from the beginning. Return to step, one, don’t start in the middle. Rest is always the most important step.
