R.C. Anderson
Bring it on!
May 22nd 2007 04:04
Well here we are; May 22nd. And can you remember, boys and girls, the ultimate significance of that monumental date?
No, I’m not talking about the 14th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet back in 760AD or the anniversary of Richard of York taking St. Albans and kidnapping King Henry VI in 1455. I’m not even referring to Abraham Lincoln patenting a buoying device in 1849 or the Great Train Robbery where 7 men made off with $98,000 in cash in 1868 …
… although these are, of course, all exceptionally significant events (especially the Abe Lincoln one, I reckon).
The date I’m talking about is the 22nd May 2007. Little Blogette’s estimated due date.
Yes, that’s right, my due date has finally arrived and like any self-respecting mother-to-be, my frustration and impatience has finally got the better of me …
Over the last couple of days I’ve been doing some important research and now feel that my expertise is complete enough to share my newly found knowledge with each and every one of you. What research have I been doing? Well, I would have thought that was pretty obvious …
… How to bring on labour – naturally.
There are a number of speculations and theories regarding the best way(s) to hurry nature up. Some have an element of scientific reality behind them, some also have an element of fun attached (you’ll see what I mean), none, though, have been researched to such a degree that scientists can honestly say, with hand on heart, that doing this particular thing will definitely bring baby into the world earlier.
Some methods of starting labour naturally can also be potentially dangerous and probably should be avoided and it’s obviously recommended that natural labour inducers shouldn’t be tried before the due date has been reached.
Yippee … I’ve reached mine … now what?
Sex! and nipple stimulation.
Both sex and nipple stimulation involve the release of a hormone called oxytocin into the maternal body. Oxytocin is also the ‘labour hormone’, causing uterine contractions and indicating the beginning of labour. Gentle nipple rubbing needs to simulate the suckling of a baby to be effective and needs to involve both the nipple and areola.
As well as sex encouraging the release of oxytocin, semen also contains prostaglandins, or ‘cervix softeners’. The cervix softens, ready for dilation, when labour starts.
Okay, so this sounds like fun but does it work and is it safe?
Nipple stimulation has been studied and, when done correctly, was shown to produce strong contractions with no discernible adverse side effects. However, like I mentioned before, it’s always best to wait until your due date has been reached before trying to jump-start labour. Sex is totally safe for mum and baby as long as your waters are still intact. Once the waters have broken there is an increased risk of introducing an infection into the womb and potentially harming the baby, so sex would be best avoided in this situation.
Eating curry
It’s thought that eating spicy food, as well as stimulating the bowels to … um … contract and empty themselves more readily, can also encourage sympathetic uterine contractions as well, with a view to expelling the baby.
No studies have really corroborated this theory however it’s a tasty addition to the “bring on labour” arsenal. Who’s got the number of the local takeaway?
Eating pineapple
Yes, pineapple!
Apparently pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme which can encourage the release of prostaglandins which soften the cervix and help bring on labour. However, some studies suggest that bromelain actually inhibits the release of prostaglandins instead of encouraging them.
The downside of this kick-start method is that each fresh pineapple only contains a little bromelain and you’d have to eat around seven whole pineapples for it to have any effect. This is more likely to cause diarrhoea than anything else!
Walking
It’s thought that walking can bring on labour by forcing the baby’s head to press down on the cervix and encourage the release of oxytocin and start contractions. It can also encourage a baby who is still not engaged (presenting high in the uterus) to move down ready for birth.
Again, there’s no evidence one way or the other on this theory, however we all know that, even during late pregnancy, walking is a damn fine exercise. It’s best to take it easy, though, especially if you haven’t had much exercise previously.
Methods not recommended
As mentioned, there are a few kick-start methods that aren’t recommended for one reason or another. Castor Oil is one of these. It works in a similar way to eating spicy food where the stimulation of the gut is thought to bring on sympathetic contractions in the uterus. However, castor oil is a very powerful laxative and can cause a bad case of vomiting and diarrhoea, potentially resulting in dehydration, a condition dangerous to both mother and unborn child.
Another kick-start method which can be potentially dangerous is using the herbs blue or black cohosh. These herbs have been used for centuries as effective in bringing on a natural spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy and should be avoided. Some studies have also found a possible link between the use of cohosh and birth defects in newborns.
What else?
Well, a qualified homeopath may be able to help using safe methods to treat the body. Alternatively, acupuncture has also been shown to be useful in bringing on labour. Both of these methods require you to find a qualified practitioner and probably involve ongoing treatment until labour is initiated.
But if you don’t have the cash for homeopathy or acupuncture, why not try blowing up a few balloons (the build up of abdominal pressure could help push the baby out), or bouncing up and down on one of those exercise balls (to encourage the baby’s head to push down on the cervix)? Yes, all right, this probably wouldn’t work but it’s heaps cheaper than getting stuck with needles.
I know what I’m going to try and it doesn’t involve any sharp implements, disgusting tasting oils or balloons. I reckon there are much more fun ways of getting Little Blogette to make an appearance …
… and that’s all I’m going to say!
No, I’m not talking about the 14th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet back in 760AD or the anniversary of Richard of York taking St. Albans and kidnapping King Henry VI in 1455. I’m not even referring to Abraham Lincoln patenting a buoying device in 1849 or the Great Train Robbery where 7 men made off with $98,000 in cash in 1868 …
… although these are, of course, all exceptionally significant events (especially the Abe Lincoln one, I reckon).
The date I’m talking about is the 22nd May 2007. Little Blogette’s estimated due date.
Yes, that’s right, my due date has finally arrived and like any self-respecting mother-to-be, my frustration and impatience has finally got the better of me …
Over the last couple of days I’ve been doing some important research and now feel that my expertise is complete enough to share my newly found knowledge with each and every one of you. What research have I been doing? Well, I would have thought that was pretty obvious …
… How to bring on labour – naturally.
There are a number of speculations and theories regarding the best way(s) to hurry nature up. Some have an element of scientific reality behind them, some also have an element of fun attached (you’ll see what I mean), none, though, have been researched to such a degree that scientists can honestly say, with hand on heart, that doing this particular thing will definitely bring baby into the world earlier.
Some methods of starting labour naturally can also be potentially dangerous and probably should be avoided and it’s obviously recommended that natural labour inducers shouldn’t be tried before the due date has been reached.
Yippee … I’ve reached mine … now what?
Sex! and nipple stimulation.
Both sex and nipple stimulation involve the release of a hormone called oxytocin into the maternal body. Oxytocin is also the ‘labour hormone’, causing uterine contractions and indicating the beginning of labour. Gentle nipple rubbing needs to simulate the suckling of a baby to be effective and needs to involve both the nipple and areola.
As well as sex encouraging the release of oxytocin, semen also contains prostaglandins, or ‘cervix softeners’. The cervix softens, ready for dilation, when labour starts.
Okay, so this sounds like fun but does it work and is it safe?
Nipple stimulation has been studied and, when done correctly, was shown to produce strong contractions with no discernible adverse side effects. However, like I mentioned before, it’s always best to wait until your due date has been reached before trying to jump-start labour. Sex is totally safe for mum and baby as long as your waters are still intact. Once the waters have broken there is an increased risk of introducing an infection into the womb and potentially harming the baby, so sex would be best avoided in this situation.
Eating curry
It’s thought that eating spicy food, as well as stimulating the bowels to … um … contract and empty themselves more readily, can also encourage sympathetic uterine contractions as well, with a view to expelling the baby.
No studies have really corroborated this theory however it’s a tasty addition to the “bring on labour” arsenal. Who’s got the number of the local takeaway?
Eating pineapple
Yes, pineapple!
Apparently pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme which can encourage the release of prostaglandins which soften the cervix and help bring on labour. However, some studies suggest that bromelain actually inhibits the release of prostaglandins instead of encouraging them.
The downside of this kick-start method is that each fresh pineapple only contains a little bromelain and you’d have to eat around seven whole pineapples for it to have any effect. This is more likely to cause diarrhoea than anything else!
Walking
It’s thought that walking can bring on labour by forcing the baby’s head to press down on the cervix and encourage the release of oxytocin and start contractions. It can also encourage a baby who is still not engaged (presenting high in the uterus) to move down ready for birth.
Again, there’s no evidence one way or the other on this theory, however we all know that, even during late pregnancy, walking is a damn fine exercise. It’s best to take it easy, though, especially if you haven’t had much exercise previously.
Methods not recommended
As mentioned, there are a few kick-start methods that aren’t recommended for one reason or another. Castor Oil is one of these. It works in a similar way to eating spicy food where the stimulation of the gut is thought to bring on sympathetic contractions in the uterus. However, castor oil is a very powerful laxative and can cause a bad case of vomiting and diarrhoea, potentially resulting in dehydration, a condition dangerous to both mother and unborn child.
Another kick-start method which can be potentially dangerous is using the herbs blue or black cohosh. These herbs have been used for centuries as effective in bringing on a natural spontaneous abortion in early pregnancy and should be avoided. Some studies have also found a possible link between the use of cohosh and birth defects in newborns.
What else?
Well, a qualified homeopath may be able to help using safe methods to treat the body. Alternatively, acupuncture has also been shown to be useful in bringing on labour. Both of these methods require you to find a qualified practitioner and probably involve ongoing treatment until labour is initiated.
But if you don’t have the cash for homeopathy or acupuncture, why not try blowing up a few balloons (the build up of abdominal pressure could help push the baby out), or bouncing up and down on one of those exercise balls (to encourage the baby’s head to push down on the cervix)? Yes, all right, this probably wouldn’t work but it’s heaps cheaper than getting stuck with needles.
I know what I’m going to try and it doesn’t involve any sharp implements, disgusting tasting oils or balloons. I reckon there are much more fun ways of getting Little Blogette to make an appearance …
… and that’s all I’m going to say!
| 64 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Good luck and have fun with that!!! I was only thinking to myself yesterday that I wondered if Blogette had made her/his appearance while I was away.
Get her moving along I say!!
Kylie
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
It does sound like fun, doesn't it!!!!
Oh and you sound just like my husband. He keeps telling me to "get that baby out". He'll enjoy knowing that he can be of some assistance in that after all!!
Soon, hopefully. Fingers and toes are crossed.
A.
Comment by Wendi
*winks*
Good luck!! (and have fun!)
W
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
...I think you just read my mind!
A. xx