Can I Induce Labor At Home?

Before you can even consider trying to induce labor at home, you know you have to do your research. The internet just seems like a great place to start. With so many resources ranging from women's forum's, blogs, medical journals and product websites or ad's, just finding straightforward information can be difficult. In this Hub you'll find out all you need to know about what it means to induce labor at home. In the next Hub, you'll find out how a chemical or hospital induction works. Hopefully after reading this Hub you'll be able to decide whether or not you're ready to induce labor at home, and know everything you need to know about your upcoming delivery.

What does it mean when you say you can 'induce labor at home'?

If you're pregnant and in your third trimester, there are many options available to you that don't involve going to the hospital. Like any choice concerning your family, how to welcome it's newest member should be considered with great care. Many mom's all over the world choose not to have their baby in a hospital but at home, in an alternative health facility or out in the nature. In North America, women are starting to break the newer trend of going to the hospital and opting for more natural methods, including using home remedies to induce labor.

Inducing labor at home means getting the delivery process started naturally without using chemicals, hormones or physical intervention. In the next Hub, you'll read all about how doctor's and hospitals induce labor using invasive or chemical means.

Now that you know how you can induce labor at home:

How does inducing labor at home actually work?

Depending on how you choose to get your labor started, the process can happen one of any number of ways. There are natural methods you can use that will cause your body to release 'birthing hormones' that can spur contractions immediately while there are others that will force your bowels to contract, causing a domino-effect and result in uterine contractions. Other's still will help your water break, and some can even help signal to your body that it is time for birthing to start through pressure points.

While some women will swear by one method, other's will defend another. The truth is, your body, much like your delivery, will be unique. There is no one solution that will work for everybody. This is why it is important that you do your research and if you choose to induce labor at home, that you choose the method that you feel most comfortable with. Nerves, anxiety and discomfort definitely don't help the process, your stress-levels or the baby.

Should I Induce Labor at Home?

Only you will know whether or not starting your labor at home is for you and your family or not. The most important thing to remember is that the health of you and your baby come first. Many women do feel an overwhelming amount of pressure during this phase of their pregnancy. With so many backseat drivers, it can be hard to hear yourself think. There are some cases in which you should not induce labor at home which include but are not limited to:

• Having a High-Risk Pregnancy
• Having a Health Condition (High Blood Pressure, Gestational Diabetes, Bleeding, Infection, etc.)
• Abnormal Heart Rate or Development of the Baby
• You are Past 42-Weeks
• Your Water Breaks and You Don't Go Into Labor Naturally

Can I Decide When to Naturally Induce My Labor?

Definitely. This choice is completely yours. The great thing about naturally inducing labor is that if your body is not ready, it simply won't work. You won't be putting your health or the health of your new little one at risk. Many women have a very difficult time with aches, pains and many of the other side-effects that accompany pregnancy and try to induce their delivery naturally before 38-weeks. If your body isn't going into labor, it just isn't time and your body will tell you! The best time to consider trying to induce labor at home is after the 38-week mark, the rest is completely up to you and your body.