Resisting The Temptation To Self-Induce And Why Doing Nothing Is The Best Method of Them All
Waiting for baby to come right at the end of pregnancy is so flippin’ tough. You’re exhausted, uncomfortable, you feel like it’s never going to happen, you feel like your body isn’t doing what it’s meant to and you just want to have baby in your arms.
Your body may not feel like it’s doing anything. Your baby seems pretty comfortable in there. Yet everyday, your body and baby are preparing for birth in the unseen, and we need to respect this.
Lungs and digestive system are maturing, the brain is still developing, the baby is positioning, the cervix is changing, and your oxytocin is doing its thing (to mention just a few!)
Braxton hicks/false labour - midleading, silly name really - are often helping baby and body work together to get into a good position and lower into the birth canal.
It is so tempting to want to do whatever we can to self-induce: loads of curb walking, bouncing on a birth ball, castor oil, nipple twiddling, spicy food, self-induction youtube workouts, etc.
Most of these contribute further to stress, exhaustion and an unfair sense of defeat or failure when they don’t work (not to mention if we encounter their own risks!) As for the friend, family member or semi-famous tiktok influencer that claim “this method worked for me”, the chances are high that they were going to go into labour regardless - they just potentially induced the sh*ts at the same time..!
By trying to initiate labour ourselves, we often initiate our sympathetic nervous system - our stress response. Spoiler: the complete opposite of what our body needs to go into labour…
Stress/fear (adrenaline and cortisol) are the antidote to oxytocin, which is the hormone of love responsible for labour contractions (as well as orgasm, bonding, healing and milk ejection reflex).
For labour to initiate and function well, we need oxytocin levels high and stress hormones low.
In its irony, the most effective self-induction methods are not about focusing on what to do to get our baby out, but actually how to be while our baby is in.
Embracing love and being present rather than attempting to control or hurry time along is the most helpful and loving thing you can do for yourself and your baby.
So, how can we proactively do this to participate and feel some sense of control and empowerment while respecting the process and what we need? (Bonus points if you can delegate this to your husband or someone else you love and trust!)
Cultivate Curiosity
Approaching this time with curiosity turns impatience into presence, powerlessness into empowerment, and resistance into resilience. Rather than trying to escape our discomfort, tune in to what is going on within us and ask what we need to know or have in that moment.
E.g. Turn “I am so uncomfortable and restless, I ache everywhere and I just want to meet my baby. I am so sick of this and I don’t see what good can come from waiting.”
into,
“What might this ache tell me about how my body is shifting, softening, and opening for birth? What does this longing tell me about the connection already forming between us? How can I use these final precious days to show gratitude and love for what my body and baby already are and what they have done to get here?”
Ask yourself what YOU need and outsource support to help you have your needs met.
Create an environment of rest, love and nourishment that optimises your oxytocin by focusing on your five senses and what oxytocin needs to thrive (privacy, connection, comfort, and safety):
What can you feel..? (e.g. cosy blankets, your husband’s presence, a bath)
What can you see..? Scan photos, your baby’s first outfit, wedding photos, affirmations/bible verses, your favourite films and programmes, etc
What can you hear..? Music, prayer, funny TV show/podcast, your partner’s voice, quiet from being intentional about who is in my space and how they are within it, etc.
What can you smell..? Your favourite candle, partner’s cologne/perfume, your favourite meal cooking, essential oils (safe!)
What can you taste..? Your favourite foods (nutritious food too!!)
Create boundaries if needed
Do you need to switch your phone off or send a message to people to let them know you will contact them when you are ready? Do you want people checking in and sending encouragement? Do you need people in your space, or do you need to keep people out? Do you need your partner to crack on with tasks, or do you need him to stop and be present with you? Tune in to what you need and have no guilt in asking for it - they can change as time goes on.
Eat nutritious food and hydrate
Labour and birth (no matter the type) are extreme on your body. Just like running a marathon, you need to have stores of energy, hydration and nutrients which will help your body function and heal.
Rest
Doing nothing or not a lot, even if you can’t sleep, will ensure you are as rested as possible ahead of birth. You need energy and calm - your mind and body cannot pour from an empty cup.
Mitigate against any stressors
Remove stressors, adjust accordingly and surrender all that cannot be changed. Delegate to a trusted partner, friend, family member, or ask your doula for support to guard your oxytocin.
Utilise Birth Biomechanic Methods before and during labour
Sometimes our baby isn’t in an optimal position for labour, which can delay things starting or contribute to a longer, more painful labour. Look up birth biomechanics to find positions you can rest in or use for a small amount of time to encourage your baby to move into an optimal position and engage in your pelvis (birth balls can be helpful for your pelvis - avoid bouncing!)
Try Hypnobirthing Tracks
Try out tracks for pregnancy and birth to help your body remain in the parasympathetic nervous system and help you to remain relaxed and present
This last stage of pregnancy is up there with the hardest parts. I remember it well. Every hour feels eternal and the finish line feels further than ever.
Before you know it, you’ll be nearly four years down the line, wondering where the time has vanished and potentially dreaming of doing it all over again!
No matter what, your baby is coming so soon, and you’re already an incredible mum🩷
Side Note: Sweeps will likely be offered to you and are a valid option which can work when your body is already ready to go into labour. They carry risks such as pain, infection and a longer latent phase of labour. Medical inductions may be offered, and again carry both benefits and risks for you and your baby, which should be thoroughly considered in making a fully informed choice, and making sure you are fully supported no matter what as per your legal rights in birth!