There may be many ways and means of labor induction, many of them the natural tips and tricks that you can try at home such as acupressure, nipple stimulation or having sexual intercourse etc.

However, these may not be effective at all times and then there is a requirement for the doctor to employ one or more of the following methods of labor induction:

Breaking the Water Bag: Many prefer this method of labor induction, wherein the water bag containing the baby is manually burst by virtue of an implement much like a crochet hook. This involves no chemicals or intravenous drip to the administered and is thought to bring on labor.

This method however may not be fully effective and it commits one to the delivery process. Once the bag is ruptured and the amniotic fluid drains out, the birthing process cannot be reversed. So if labor does not start within a specific period there may be need to perform an emergency C section.

Pitocin: This is a synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin which is responsible for initiating contractions in the uterus. This is administered by an IV drip and can be controlled as to the dosage and can also be stopped when required.

If it is not used in conjunction with the other method above, the process can be halted, and the woman is not committed to the birthing process, and can even go home.

There are disadvantages, however, in that this labor induction method could cause fetal distress and is known to cause other complications.

Prostaglandin: This is the hormone that helps ripen or efface the cervix in preparation for birth, so prostaglandin gels or suppositories are used when the cervix is not sufficiently dilated. This method is used prior to administering a Pitocin drip in some cases. This induction method does take longer for labor to begin actively and can cause nausea or headaches in some women.

Misoprostal: This is also a labor induction method that helps the cervix dilate and is usually in the form of a pill that can be either taken orally or be placed at the mouth of the uterus.

This is usually a fairly effective method and this also does not commit one to the birthing process at the time. This is usually not advisable for those mothers who are attempting a vaginal birth after a C section (VBAC). Another disadvantage of the method is that it can sometimes cause labor to be very rapid.

Cervical dilation is a natural process or a medically induced one, which is the widening of the mouth of the uterus to facilitate a natural childbirth or in the case of a miscarriage, an induced abortion, or other gynecological surgery.

Cervical dilation is usually accompanied by the thinning or effacement of the cervix. Generally speaking the extent of cervical dilation is up to 3 centimeters during the later stages of pregnancy or latent stage. Active labor will usually dilate it to about 4 to 7 centimeters and at the transition stage the dilation could be anything between 8 and 10 centimeters.

The usual indications of a woman’s cervix dilation would be when the plug of thick mucus which shields the uterus from infection or bacteria is dislodged.

It may be dislodged and may fall out as a piece or it may manifest itself a thick mucus discharge from the vagina. In some cases, the dislodging of this mucus plug may not be able to discern by the woman; she may not notice it.

Another sign of the cervix dilating is a bloody discharge, which is usually accompanied by the mucous plug. This bloody discharge is not colored red; it is not usually fresh blood but rather it is of a darker brown or lighter pink hue. When there is a fresh red blood discharge, this is usually the sign of a complication such as placenta previa or abruption.

The other main indication or symptom of cervical dilation is the pain that usually accompanies it. This pain is rather like severe period cramps; which is also the contraction of the uterus.

Cervical dilation is a natural process and upon a woman reaching full term, the cervix will start to dilate by virtue of the body producing the prostaglandin hormone which is responsible for the dilation or ripening of the cervix as it is also known.

Sometimes, the dilation of the cervix does not begin on its own and a drip to induce dilation or application of the hormone to the cervix directly may be done.

There are ways to dilate a cervix mechanically as well. A balloon catheter is one such device that may be used which expands when it is placed within the cervix. There are other materials also used that may expand in the presence of moisture, such as laminaria etc. for mechanical dilation.

We have probably heard by now about Gisele Bundchen and her famous “Painless Delivery” so faithfully reported by the press.

For every such story that one hears about a woman who had virtually no pain during childbirth, you will probably hear two about women who underwent hideously painful labors that extended over many, many hours.

While both may be true, the pregnant woman who is trying to figure out what to expect at the time of delivery, is wondering what to expect.

The fact is that for a large majority of women, childbirth pains reach none of those extremes and every woman should have a realistic expectation bolstered by a calm courage.

If Bundchen’s midwife Deborah Allen said that the former “felt no fear” this would be useful pointer to take. It was a water birth where the mother was focused on breathing deeply in order to “relax and be present in the moment”.

And then there was the yoga and meditation which resulted in the very tranquil birth.  “I kept myself in good shape during the whole pregnancy, eating healthily, meditating, and doing exercises,” said Bundchen.  These are good pointers for any mom to be, not just for celebs!

There may be medical reasons when a woman’s pregnancy is overdue and she is past her delivery date, and labor may be required to induce.

Sometimes, it is just a case of the woman wishing that the baby would just hurry up already!

Acupressure has long been lauded as one of the safe ways to induce labor that has not yet started, or to hurry up labor or strengthen contractions when labor has already started.

Certain pressure points to induce labor are indicated; and many women report an almost instant response to application of pressure at the specified points in the form of the uterus contracting.

The following are the commonly used pressure points to induce labor, which can be detected by a feeling of light pain when pressed. The pressure points to induce labor may not be the same in all women and the efficacy of each point may vary greatly from woman to woman.

Hoku pressure point to induce labor: This is the point that is in the webbing between the thumb and the index finger. The point where the bone of the index finger connects should be pressed with light pressure and rubbed to stimulate labor contractions. Not only does this pressure point induce contractions, it also is used for pain[labor pain] relief during labor.

Spleen 6 Pressure point to induce labor: This point is located on the inside of the ankle between the Achilles tendon and the ankle bone. This area is to be rubbed for about a minute and is said to propel the baby’s head down into the mother’s pelvis. Also about 5 centimeters about the ankle bone is a pressure point, which, when massaged may help to strengthen contractions that may yet be weak and ineffective.

Bladder 32 pressure point to induce labor: The depression between the crease of the buttocks and the spine is the location of this pressure point. This is the point that is required to be pressed intermittently.

The Trapezius Muscle: This is the muscle that connects the shoulder and the neck. The pressure point is located about an inch or so below the highest point where the muscle connects with the neck. The soft spot there is where the pressure is to be applied at intervals.

Another acupressure technique that is recommended is pressing your tongue to the roof of the mouth. This will help with relaxation and it also acts as a pressure point to induce labor.

There is an alarming trend being noticed worldwide, that incidence of Cesarean section births are increasing and that in this case, modernization is not necessarily a good thing.

In a WHO survey performed in 9 Asian counties, 27% births were done by C section and what is dismaying is that C sections were done not for reasons of medical exigencies but often for financial gain by the hospital.

According to this report, in China as many as 46% births are done by C section and in Latin America also 35% of babies are being born surgically.  Non necessary C sections raise morbidity and mortality rates among women and those women are more likely to die or be admitted into intensive care units, require blood transfusions or encounter complications that lead to hysterectomies, the WHO study found.

While some women elect to have a C section out of fear of labor pains, others do so in order to have their child born at a ‘favorable or lucky time’ after consulting with an astrologer. The fact that people mistakenly believe C sections are less risky and so common than vaginal deliveries that women as well as their families opt for C sections.

When you are expecting, one of the things that you are likely to be thinking of is Cord Blood Banking. This is a method of which blood of the umbilical cord that connects the mother and her new born is harvested and frozen.

Cord blood banking enables you to use the stem cells contained in the cord blood to treat major illnesses sometime in the future either for the baby or its close relations.

 As of now, cord blood is used for treatment of blood and immune system related genetic diseases, cancers and other blood disorders.

There is only one main argument against cord blood banking, that this is very physiologically valuable blood and so could be very beneficial for the neonate to receive.

 There is also some doubt raised as to the viability of frozen cord blood and its usability in the future, even though in theory, cryogenic freezing of cord blood can be done for an indefinite period of time.

Cord blood banking is of two types; public and private.

Private cord blood baking consists of having the cord blood collected and privately stored for the exclusive use of the baby, its family or persons authorized by them.

At the average cost of $2500 for the process, the long term commercial viability of the blood bank is an issue to be considered if one wants to ensure and that there is any probable use of the cord blood that has been banked.

Also the chances that privately banked cord blood will actually be used by the person banking it are very slim, about a 1 in 400 chance.

 In certain countries, private cord blood banking is not legal if one does not belong to a high risk group. It is also unclear whether the amount of blood banked would be of a sufficient amount as required if actually required to be pressed into use.

Public cord blood banking: When cord blood is banked with a public institution it is delinked from the donor and there is no way of retrieving it for the donor’s own use at a later date.

 These banking facilities are for the greater good and there is more chance of blood banked this way being brought into use. However there aren’t very many of these facilities since they are expensive to maintain and public cord blood banking facilities do not charge any storage facilities.

Not only a full term pregnancy difficult to live with, making the mother to be all too eager to get the delivery over and done with, an overdue pregnancy is actually likely to be detrimental to the mother as well as her unborn child.

However, many women and physicians may want to try and hurry the baby along a bit using some of these natural ways to induce labor rather than use medical intervention:

Sexual Intercourse: There is some evidence to suggest that sexual activity could spur on and be included as one of the natural ways to induce labor.

The reason is that semen contains the hormone prostaglandin, which is known to start or bring on labor because it can help in softening or ripening the cervix for starting the birthing process. So there may be something to that old saw, what gets the baby in, gets it out!

Nipple stimulation: Nipple stimulation is another among the natural ways to induce labor, since this can produce the hormone oxytocin which causes the uterus to contract.

It is also nipple stimulation of breast feeding after the baby is born that helps the uterus contract back to its pre pregnancy size.

Herbs to induce labor naturally: What herbs can be used safely during pregnancy is a crucial question since herbs used to induce labor could be unpredictable in the way that they react with different individuals.

Blue and black cohosh, chamomile, partridge berry, motherwort, red raspberry leaf, evening primrose oil etc are known to help prepare for the delivery, however they must be taken under guidance of a knowledgeable herbalist.

Castor Oil: Castor oil, which is known to be a laxative, can help in inducing labor by stimulating the bowels, and many women find this a very effective natural way of inducing labor. This has to be used with caution, however cramping, diarrhea and dehydration can often result from this.

Acupressure: Acupressure is sometimes used as one of the safe natural ways to induce labor. Pressure points in the webbing between the thumb and the index finger, the inside of the ankle, etc are effective pressure points that will help in labor by strengthening contractions.

Certain foods can help induce labor naturally: Certain foods such as parmesan cheese, spicy food, eggplant, licorice etc are said to help induce labor.

However, this claim is mainly anecdotal and research on natural ways to induce labor is not supportive of these foods being able to bring about labor, even if many women over the years have sworn by it.

Tropical fruits such as kiwi, mango and pineapple are said to contain certain enzymes that may cause mild contractions, so there may be no harm in trying.

Whatever one’s personal beliefs about pain relief during the process of labor and delivery, it is important to have the facts beforehand about this particular facet of the delivery process.

Even a woman who believes in and is committed to natural and unassisted delivery may change her mind through a long and difficult labor, so if she does change her mind at a later stage it helps to have known the options from before.

Also every woman is different and so is every birth.

Even one woman may have several different kinds of labor. While there are several kinds of pain relief available for a woman such as an epidural, narcotic assistance, IV shots, etc.

There are however other natural ways to obtain some relief from the pain such as:

• Music can be therapeutic in nature and can help relieve pain
• Bathing can be soothing for labor pains and can lessen the pain that the contractions cause. A warm bath is seen to relieve the pain for many women. Many women tend to opt for a water birth because of this and other reasons
• Breathing exercises and specific breathing patterns can bring about relaxation and help to get a handle on the pain making it more manageable
• Acupuncture is also known to relieve labor pain
• Certain massage techniques also help in relieving labor pain
• Women can remain active throughout the process of labor which helps them deal with and lessen the pain
• Many women find squatting the most comfortable position to give birth in, others find that sitting on a chair facing the chair back is the most comfortable, and yet others find that leaning against a wall is helpful.

In addition there is the TENS machine or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation which consists of electrodes attached to the birthing mother’s back, which is thought to stimulate the body’s natural painkiller mechanism and promote the production of endorphins. The woman herself controls the device and the strength of the current. There are no known side effects or effects on the baby.

Entonox is another option, which uses equal parts oxygen and nitrous oxide to take the edge of the pain. A woman can inhale this through a mouthpiece and thereby control how much she uses.

There are no effects and this does not pass to the baby however some women find that this gas and air mixture can make them lightheaded and does not let them concentrate on the task at hand.

Among the many birthing choices that a woman has to choose from hypnobirth is one.

This is a birthing method that uses focused concentration. This method of birthing is about the pregnant woman going into and coming out of the state of hypnosis at will.

It is not about being unconscious or out of control, but hypnobirth proponents claim that this birthing method can mean that the labor is shorter and there are chances of having fewer complications.

The principle upon which hypnobirth is based is that hypnosis bypasses the conscious and critical mind to access the subconscious to achieve deep relaxation, which in turn is able to facilitate quicker and less painful birthing. There is also, it is claimed, less bleeding and recovery is also seen to be faster.

The Mongon Method of hypnobirthing claims to be a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth education, enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques and that through Hypnobirthing women can use their natural instincts to bring about a safer, easier, more comfortable birthing. The series of five, 2 1/2-hour classes is available at the hypnobirthing site

Hypnobirthing claims to reduce chances of having to undergo a C section: In 2007 15.5% of US Hypnobirthing mothers birthed via C-Section, compared to the national average of 32%.

Through hypnobirth techniques one is taught how to bond prenatally, by talking to your baby, and singing to it while still in the womb.

Breathing techniques are taught in order to slow down and relax the body. This can reduce stress and promotes a feeling of calm. This can be effective for parenting and breastfeeding as well.

There is particular stress placed on relaxation techniques and on helping the mother to be able to use her natural ‘expulsive reflex’. The aim is relaxation through “releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one’s being”.

Through hypnobirthing techniques there is also the attempt made to help release the fear that many mothers may inevitably feel.

There is the attempt made to make women feel more empowered and in control. The idea is to have not just the mother but both parents feel calm and confident going into the birthing.

More women who opt for hypnobirth choose to birth at home or in freestanding birth centers. This method of birthing reduces duration of labor and consequently it is claimed that 70% of women undergoing hypnobirth have unmedicated births.