Natural Ways to Speed Labor

One of my friends that I love SOOO much is due to have a baby any time.  I have been researching and sending info her way just in case the labor stalls at any time (which I believe it won’t – it will be perfect!) but just in case it’s good to have some tricks up your sleeve.  Here is what I am finding, hopefully it will help all you other moms out there to prepare for your own labor!

• Boiron – Gelsemium Sempervire 6c, 6c, 80 pellets, 3 tablets every hour, helps the cervix and other sphincters involved in birth to relax and open up
• Homeopathic Caulophyllum, 1 tablet every 15 minutes for an hour, then 1 tab every hour during labor to help strengthen and speed contractions
• Nelson Bach USA – Rescue Remedy, 20, 4 drops or up to 1 dropperful under tongue as needed to help mom relax and keep labor progressing
• Evening primrose oil, 1500 to 2000 mg orally every hour for up to 12 hours (this translates to 1 capsule every hour or if you want to just go for it take 1 tbsp all at once) to increase levels of prostaglandins involved in labor.  Works best when mom had a zinc rich diet during pregnancy.  If zinc levels were low due to low protein intake, take 20 mg zinc once alongside evening primrose oil.  If membranes remain intact, a capsule of oil can be opened and the oil applied directly to the cervix to help it soften and ripen.  If water has broken, taking the oil orally or rubbing it on the skin is a better alternative.
• Calcium lactate, one dose of 500 mg to help strengthen contractions.

If labor is stalling and you are starting to consider Pitocin, remember that Pitocin is just synthetic oxytocin – the love hormone.  Surrounding mom with an atmosphere of love with loving physical touch (if she wants that) or voicing your love for mom and baby can naturally increase levels of oxytocin and help labor progress.  It’s important for mom to also talk to baby during labor, tell him (or her) how much she loves him, and how excited she is to meet him.  Also telling baby what is happening around him and asking him to help labor progress can help – babies listen!  Good old nipple stimulation is also a great way to increase oxytocin levels, so don’t be shy and make sure to keep that in your mental bag of tricks!  Other natural ways to help mom relax and keep labor moving include walking, slow dancing, and singing (which helps relax sphincter muscles).  If after all of this, mom and her medical team decide that she does need Pitocin or a C-section then at least none of these suggestions will have a negative interaction.  Just remember that it’s your labor and you are the most important member of your medical team so make sure that you are involved with every decision along the way!

Happy birthday baby!