Does anyone know of anything other than black and blue cohosh to induce labor naturally?

Answer 1

Black Cohosh Tincture:

Take 10 drops of tincture under the tongue hourly. This will have noticeable effect on the cervix in three or four hours. Continue until the cervix is fully soft and ripe.


Nipple Stimulation:

Stimulation of the nipples is a very effective way for ripening the cervix and initiating labor. Have someone else suck continuously on the nipple, or roll the nipple between the thumb and finger. This may need to be continued for many hours to establish regular labor. It is fine to rest during a contraction and resume stimulation as it fades.


Sexual Activity & Intercourse:

Sexual activity acts in the same fashion as stimulation of the nipples, if not more intense. If sexual orgasm is achieved, this may actually initiate labor contractions through the release of hormones that cause uterine and pelvic contractions found in orgasm. If the woman's partner is male, the semen contains a natural prostaglandin that will often soften the cervix and help with labor initiation. This semen may be applied directly to the cervical os. Some midwives have actually suggested that oral ingestion of seminal fluid may act just as well (not to mention relaxing the tense father-to-be!). Many a time a midwife has stepped out of the bedroom to allow the couple some "loving time" together in a slow or stalled labor and the wonderful acts of loving often end up producing a baby not too soon afterwards. It is wise to keep in mind that the act of loving put the baby there to begin with and it may be the remedy to helping the baby to be born as well.



Initiating Labor

These remedies will not work unless the cervix is ripe and ready to dilate. Some herbs, homeopathic remedies, and other suggestions are listed below:

CAUTION: Do not try to initiate labor unless the fetus is at least 37 weeks gestational age. It is best to attempt these things under the watchful guidance of your midwife.


Visualizations:

Using imagery and visualizations can often start labor. This is done by "imagining" it is contracting. Don't try to force or push the feeling, just let it arise by itself. If the mind worries or focuses on the problem, gently return the mind back to the solution by affirming that labor has begun and that it will be felt very soon. As with all visualizations, this one will work well with any of the following remedies.


Caulophyllum 200x:
This homeopathic remedy is reported to be a good labor initiator. The dose can be repeated every half-hour for two hours.



Uterine Stimulation:

This can be done by the use of nipple stimulation or rubbing the belly softly and persistently (effleurage massage), with or without oil. Other suggestions may be to make an infusion of blue cohosh and use it as an enema and/or having sexual activity & orgasm. These methods are all safe and effective ways to encourage uterine contractions.


Castor Oil:

This has been a favorite remedy for birthing moms and midwives for a very long time. It is used internally and externally to stimulate the uterus, soften the cervix, and help initiate labor.

Rubbing castor oil on the belly and covering with a warm towel will help initiate labor if the cervix is ripe.

The use of castor oil as a stimulating purgative may be used. The dosage and procedure for starting labor with castor oil varies greatly with each midwife, but almost everyone uses some form or method of this treatment. Warning: The effects of taking castor oil internally can be intense. Forewarn your mothers as this will cause bowel cramping (which stimulates labor) and colon cleansing with diarrhea action and possibly nausea or vomiting. Be sure to keep the mother well hydrated and offer lots of support.

Various Castor Oil Suggestions:
1. Two ounces of castor oil, two ounces of vodka, and two or more ounces of orange juice. Follow with a hot shower. After an hour, the dose is repeated and an enema is given. Repeat the third dose after another hour, followed by a hot shower again. Labor will begin 3 to 5 hours after the last dose if all is well.

2. Two ounces of castor oil, 2 capsules of powdered blue cohosh. Take a hot shower. After an hour, the dose is repeated. Repeat the third dose after another hour, followed by a hot shower again. Labor will begin 3 to 5 hours after the last dose if all is well. This is the method I personally used with two of my own labors!

3. Two ounces of castor oil, 10 drops of blue cohosh tincture. Take a hot shower. After an hour, the dose is repeated. Repeat the third dose after another hour, followed by a hot shower again. Labor will begin 3 to 5 hours after the last dose if all is well.



Blue Cohosh Tincture:

3-8 drops in a glass of warm water or tea (red raspberry tea is good for a labor tea), is a very effective way in starting labor. Repeat every half hour for several hours until contractions are regular. If labor is not underway in four hours, use a dropperful of the tincture under the tongue every hour for up to four hours or until contractions are strong and consistent.


Labor Tincture (Susun Weed's Wise Woman Herbal):
1/2 ounce dried Black Cohosh root
1/2 ounce dried Blue Cohosh root
1/4 ounce dried Ginger
1/4 ounce dried Birthroot
1 cup (8 fluid ounces) 100 proof vodka

Place dried herbs in a pint jar and add vodka. Label and cap. Let it all steep together for 6 weeks or longer. Decant tincture by running the mixture through a juice extractor or a salad spinner. If neither of these are available, pour the tincture and herbs onto a cotton cloth and wring by hand. Store decanted tincture in a cool, dark place in brown glass. Be sure to label it. The blue cohosh encourages the uterus to begin contractions and increases the force of the contraction. The black cohosh helps the uterus to contract in a coordinated and effective way, the ginger focuses the energy into the pelvic area and increases the energy available to the uterus. The birthroot (trillium) adds its influence on the uterus by speeding up the action of the cohoshes and joining with the ginger to energize the uterus. This tincture can be used to initiate labor, strengthen contractions, unstall and stimulate labor, deal with exhaustion during labor, expel the placenta and help to control postpartum hemorrhage.


Use the labor tincture hourly and homeopathic Caulophyllum 200x every half hour. This establishes a smooth labor within 5 hours. Contractions build slowly when a labor tincture is used. Do not discontinue use until the contractions become regular.

Answer 2

Nipple stimulation. If you have breast pump, give that a try. I also read somewhere that pineapple can help move things along - don't ask how. But I do know that by 40 weeks I was ready to try anything....ate a can of pineapple 2 nights in a row and then went into labor with my son.

As a previous poster said, for the most part let mother nature do her thing....no matter what you do, if a baby's not ready he/she's not going to come.

Answer 3

Sex, Walking (I went out last night and stood for 3 hours and walked a bit in there and the baby dropped so yeah that helps!), I heard Red Raspberry Tea will do it but I'm not sure about that one, Pedicures (there's a pressure point in your foot that will induce labor if they massage it. I'm going for my pedicure tomorrow!!!). I also heard that If you eat oranges then it'll make your delivery easier...also not positive on that one.

Answer 4

All of my sisters have had children and they all went into labor naturally, my one sister went on a walk around the block and went into labor that night and the others both had sex to go into labor good luck!

Answer 5

Walking

and both my mother and I ate spaghetti the night before we went into labor (and I didn't know that it happened for her 2 of 3 pregnancies until AFTER I had my baby).

Answer 6

black and blue cohosh tea
castor oil
orgasm
sex (no condom - the sperm can get sometimes get things started)
red raspberry tea
enema (I've heard this, don't know how true it is...

Yeah, and I hope you don't try these unless you are at term 40+ weeks

Answer 7

don't mess with mother nature... when it's time it's time. if your over due go to the doctor and find out why.. please don't induce yourself you could be asking for serious trouble.. anything thats taken goes straight to the baby! do you know the effect it could have on the baby?.. please research this more before you decide to do this... ask your doctor..

Answer 8

I have heard that sex in the "doggy-style" postion puts pressure and can induce.

j.

Answer 9

castor oil

Answer 10

Castor Oil, sex, spicy foods, long walks...........