Birthlight Forums

 

I have a couple of women in my class who have just passed their due date and are starting to get nervous about talk of induction. They are using alternative therapies but I wondered what can they do with the yoga to help get things going. Any suggestions?

 

 

Hi Amrita, I am really curious about the frequency of induction in labour? 2 mums I have now had induction for their first babies too and others before. Is it a common practice? Also often for the first time labour, the woman gets overtired trying for too long then is talked into induction. They need as much preparation as a marathon! I have a shining example of a mum-to-be who because it happened before was absolutely against it. She was 17 days overdue then contractions coming at very long stretches apart for 2 days -( I was concerned not being a midwife...)- she used homeopathy, caulophyllum with different dosages, even at her late stage, she 's convinced it worked (please tell them to consult an homeopath); there are also shiatsu points to help induce labour. Yoga was very important for her mental strength, ujjayi was paramount, practicing labour postures like squatting as often as possible.conserving her energy too. But the key was the psychological desire to be in control of her labour, trusting herself that the baby was fine and no risk to it. If they listen to the voice of "reason" rather than their body, anxiety can creep in and cloud their judgment. It is a difficult one. A lot of relaxation is important . All the best kim

 Hi Amrita,

 I thought I'd reply from a personal perspective having had 3 babies - all late.  My 1st (born in London) was 12 days overdue. When I had him, the practice in Guys was to sweep at 7 days late, and induce at 14 days.  I had braxton hicks for days and days and a fairly long labour which ended in a ventouse delivery.  I didn't do ante-natal yoga during that pregnancy and I regret the 12 days I spent lounging on the sofa waiting for him to come - I would have been much better resting over a birthing ball.  

When I got to Edinburgh, the practice was to induce at 10 days late.  I asked my midwife why there had been a change and she answered that that was just what they did here, and they were happy to leave me go 14 days over if that was what I wanted.  If I hadn't asked, I wouldn't have known that some of these things are just the common practice and not set in stone.  

Hope it all goes well for them,

 Gaye

Dear Amrita

In relation to why induce after the due date and when-the concern is usually mainly risk to the baby due to the placenta no longer working as well.  However the evidence is that most babies are fine up to 42 weeks ie 14 days after due date.  The risk of stillbirth is doubled to that of a 40 week baby at 43 weeks so most obstetricians advise induction around 42 weeks. Locally there is always scope for negociation and a dopppler scan is often suggested to enable them to actually measure the blood flow through the cord to the baby thus ensuring that all is well.

Reflexology can be a very useful alternative therapy to encourage labour.  Do remember that lots of sex is a good natural alternative to medical induction!  I'm sure you know that the hormone prostaglandins is present in male semen. This is the hormone used to induce labour - also women release oxytocin at orgasm-the contraction hormone. Partners sometimes need to be assured that sex at the end of pregnancy will not harm the baby!  Also drinking raspberry leaf tea in my experiemnce sometimes seems to work even though the evidence is that its benefit is that it can make labour shorter once started.

I would echo what has already been written about the woman's psychological state is so important as they often become anxious.  I do wish we adopted the French calculation of due date which is 41 weeks-it would save a lot of anxiety.  Women often aren't told/forget that the due date means that their baby is likely to arrive in between 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after that date. One research project showed that 90% of women go into labour spontaneously by 42 weeks so left until then few would need induction. Some women are very eager to be induced as they 'just want to get on with it'. It's always worth explaining that labour is likely to be more challenging if induced and that they will have to be in hospital from the start of the induction-no chance to relax in your own home environment. Also the 'cascade of intervention' is more likely to occur.

Best wishes

Marion

 

On a general note regarding 'late' babies, I am always very concerned about interfering with nature for no good reason.  My first was two weeks 'overdue' but didn't look overdue at all.  In the same way, my second was two weeks 'overdue' and actually looked premature.  Neither were induced.  Obviously if there is a good reason for doing so, it should be done, but babies as a rule know when they want to be born.

I wish it was also made clear that length of pregnancy is also linked to menstrual cycles.   If you have a short cycle your baby is likely to be born sooner, if you have a long cycle, your baby is likely to remain inside for longer!

 

best wishes,

 

Maria