I may look easy going but I am not.
I have a disorder called
‘medically acknowledged secret panicking’.
Ironically, most of this panic
stems from medical issues.
I went to the Obstetrician recently
who informed me that our baby is weighing well at 36 weeks and 4 days (i.e. it
is not over-sized).
He then brought up the topic of
my Gestational Diabetes, and I asked if I would be allowed to go past the 40
week mark. He said no, as from week 38 the placenta starts to break down and
the baby can die from having a hypo in utero or from general GD complications. Apparently from 38 weeks, the
baby’s pancreas begins to behave differently.
This scared me a lot. I’d prefer
to be induced to make sure that the baby lives. I think I am going to have to
push my point more at my next Obstetric appointment as the Doctor did not seem
keen on inducing me. He said that ladies on insulin are the ones who get
induced at 38 weeks, not people like me who are controlling their diabetes
through diet alone. Well I’d like to join them! (Personally I have been angling
for a February 29 baby all along, but I didn’t mention this).
I’m not sure if I’ll be able to
convince the doctor of my plans, so I have looked up methods to induce labour
and I may put them in place shortly.
Methods of natural induction include (as
detailed at http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/natural-induction-methods):
1. Sex
Sex is a commonly suggested method
of natural induction due to semen containing prostaglandins – which help to
ripen the cervix.
Pros: It’s free and you don’t have
to leave home to do it.
Cons: Baby might kick the penis out
of revenge and halt proceedings.
2. Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been used very
successfully for thousands of years to induce women who are over-due in their
pregnancy. Andrew Orr, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner in Queensland
states “Through continual research, we have found that induction using
acupuncture generally works within 6-48 hours of having your treatment.”
Pros: Someone else is sticking
needles in you (unlike Gestational Diabetes where I am sticking needles in
myself 4 times a day).
Cons: I scar easily and will look
like a pock marked person for the rest of my life.
3. Acupressure
Known to induce labour, details on pressure points can be found at:
http://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/downloads/Acupressure.pdf
Pros: Someone gets to play touchy
feelies on you. Reminds me of when we were in primary school and we used to
‘draw’ words on each other’s backs (that the recipient had to guess).
Cons: I am unable to grab my
ankles and self-apply pressure. There is a belly in the way! Therefore I need an assistant.
4. Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
Evening Primrose Oil is another
‘cervix ripening’ method. EPO helps by imitating prostaglandin can be used
orally and/or internally. If you are taking EPO internally,
you can do this from 36 weeks – simply insert 2-3 capsules directly to the
cervix before bed. You might like to wear a pad or liner as it can get messy
when you get up.
Pros: Having a ‘front bottom’
that smells like primroses.
Cons: Leaking something that resembles toilet freshener
throughout the day.
6. Nipple Stimulation
Nipple stimulation produces
oxytocin and can produce some strong effects, so you can try stimulating your
nipples (including your areola, as a baby would when sucking) with your
fingers, massaging one at a time. An alternate option is if you are still
feeding a toddler, let him attach and the sucking action will do the same
thing. Massage the first nipple for 5
minutes (when there are no contractions), then wait to see what happens (around
15 mins or so) before doing more.
Pros: Doing this in public
GUARANTEES you a seat by yourself on the bus.
Cons: Difficult to accomplish if you have
inverted nipples.
7. Castor Oil
Castor oil causes diarrhoea (and sometimes
vomiting) for the mother. Often in early labour you will have diarrhoea – this is the body’s own way
of clearing out and making space for baby, but sometimes this doesn’t happen,
especially if baby isn’t yet ready and given the signal for labour to start.
Pros: I always wanted to have an
enema. Madonna & Princess
Di really popularized this as a weight loss technique back in the day.
Cons: I’ll get hungry straight
afterwards and will demand a Quarter Pounder meal with a large chips. Then we
are back to square one.
8. Sweeping Membranes / Stretch
& Sweep
Sweeping the membranes involves
your medical carer gently separating the membranes from the cervix by vaginal
exam. This may be a little uncomfortable for some women.
Pros: Perhaps they can tap on the
baby’s head while they are in there to wake him / her up?
Cons: I’d feel like a
hand-puppet.
9. Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh is a herb used to
encourage contractions and facilitate labour.
Pros: I must take a trip to North
America to buy this preparation.
Cons: I had to look up what this
was on Wikipedia.
10. Raspberry Leaf
Raspberry Leaf is a uterine
tonic, which also has added benefits after the birth for breastmilk production.
Pros: A cup of raspberry leaf tea will go hand in hand with a Yo Yo biscuit.
Cons: Yo-Yo biscuits are not
available outside of the state of South Australia.
We also manufacture Farmer’s Union Iced Coffee and Fruchocs that we’re not sharing.
11. Spicy Food / Curry
Apparently this works.
Pros: Thai takeaway curries every
night until the baby is born.
Cons: Difficult to eat in summer when
a pregnant woman is naturally running at 10 degrees hotter than everyone else.
12. Induction Massage
The massage therapists work on
acupressure points which are normally avoided during pregnancy, which can
trigger labour.
Pros: Provides you with a legitimate
reason to get nude in front of a stranger.
Cons: You may get too relaxed and
fall asleep instead of beginning labour. Also, this may be an 'extra' that is not covered by your health insurance fund.
Decisions, decisions.... I think I'll peform some accupressure on my partner before sex, use some Evening Primrose Oil as lubricant and then have a nice cup of Rasperry Leaf Tea afterwards.
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