Are there alternatives to amniotomy?
There have always been ways to start a labor that isn’t or augment a labor that appears to be lagging. Some of them can be done by you, and some are done by the practioners. Induction Techniques: * Time. Some women take longer than others. Monitoring the baby (fetal movement counts, etc.) will give you a good idea of the baby’s health and whether or not you have time to play with. * Prostaglandins and Oxytocin These can be found at home by deep penetrating intercourse with no condom (Semen contains Prostaglandins.). Female orgasms release oxytocin. Rolling the nipples increases the oxytocin levels. At the hospital or practioner’s office, your choices are Prostaglandins suppositories (to ripen the cervix) or an oxtocin (Pitocin) drip. Augmentation Techniques: * Movement: Changing position and walking or moving around helps to speed labor. Try and figure out if your labor is really stalled or if it’s just progressing at it’s own naturally slow pace. If the baby is taking it’s time to mol
