Maternity Acupressure

Medical labor inductions have recently become a standard procedure in many hospitals. It is shocking that today, as many as 1 in 5 labors are medically induced.

Naturally, there are some pre-existing medical conditions that require concluding the pregnancy, even before the due date. In some cases, the baby may have a congenital condition which requires special medical attention. Labor induction may be necessary also if the amniotic membranes have broken, but the labor has not started within two days or the mother has a serious infection, diabetes or high blood pressure.

In these cases, medical induction in a highly controlled environment may be necessary. It’s, however, important to carefully consider the potential risks of labor induction as compared to the benefits that the induction may have to the mother or the baby.

Read more about facts about labor induction.

When you conceive and become pregnant, your body begins to prepare for giving birth and, at the same time, it nurtures the fragile fetus growing in your womb. Full-term pregnancy is considered to last 38 or 40 weeks. When the length is calculated from the estimated day of fertilization, the pregnancy period is couple of weeks shorter than that calculated from the start of the last menstruation.

Every labor and delivery is different. The length and progress of the labor can be remarkably different from mother to mother, and from birth to birth. Some pregnant mothers experience very distinct signs of labor, while others do not. Read the whole story about labor signs and symptoms here.

If you are reading this because you have reached the post dates of your pregnancy, and have been visiting your doctor who confirmed that your baby could be born “any day now” but that, unfortunately, you are not currently in labor, you are not alone! 

When the baby has reached - and passed - his estimated date of delivery (EDD), most pregnant mothers are eager to try any of the natural ways to induce labor, and to avoid medical labor induction with chemicals such as Pitocin or Cytotec. 

You should, however, note that although there are a variety of natural labor induction remedies, you should not blindly follow advice from anyone who is willing to give it. That’s why it’s important that you read more about remedies to naturally induce labor here.