MATERNITY LEAVE: Day 10

STATUS: remaining pro-active

OK, I admit, yesterday I was a bit down and out with the frustrations of pregnancies. Believe me, I am not the only when you get around to the 38-42 week mark and your body just keeps teasing you with all these preterm labor symptoms and mumbo jumbo. All these different things keep popping up that you can lose course with your own body and begin analyzing each little tidbit.

No, I have not come to terms that Olivia's birthday could be one written into someone's schedule and created by a series of chemical agents; therefore, I am going to ease myself into the at-home labor inducers. Sure, the American doctors and hospital creatures may look frownly upon these methods because nothing has been 'proven' through scientific research but I raise my double-jointed middle finger at that and scoff at your frown....because you would rather make a buck off of your freak medicines that aren't even made of anything natural in the first place (I swear, too many people put too much trust in the system). People have utilized these methods (including midwives and homebirths) all over the world for years and what a coincidencs that the US has one of the highest infant death rates of developed countries and that, oh, have we forgotten that America is the richest third world country because of the failing health system?!
*AHEM* I digress...but without apologies.

The methods I have elected to try are the most natural I could find. I only want to try a handful at a time since I do, technically still have 4 days to the 'estimated due date' (a term I believe should be swiped off the face of the earth for the sanity of pregnant women everywhere). Quite honestly, I wouldn't mind going into next week pregnant - it's that dreaded last week of May that I bite my lip til it bleeds that I so want to avoid - namely the testing, the Pitocin, the increased risk of complications, and the dreaded cesarean (not because it's surgery but the drugs and the complications which tend to accompany it...which begins with the administration of PItocin in the first place. It's a vicious cycle, folks.).


So, my methods are as follows:

1. Accupressure - varying pressure points aid in the relaxing or stimulation of different organs, muscles, etc. that contribute to the onset of labor pains or ripening of the cervix. They can also be utilized in the labor room to help ease the pains of labor. (I applied pressure to one spot as an experiment and out of nowhere the baby began squirming and I could feel some difference in my cervix/intestines...amazing!).

2. Eating FRESH pineapple, mango, papaya - good thing for me I was raised with a tropical fruit palate! These are believed to have small amounts of bromelaine which works with prostaglandin in inducing labor. I would need to eat quite a bit of it...but not too much as to create the runs!

3. Raspberry leaf tea = I started this in the second trimester because it is said to help strengthen the uterus. At the time, it triggered my Braxton-Hicks contractions; however, also made them less painful. You may recall I had to stop them because the contractions came one on top of the other and caused concern to inhibit a preterm labor. Hopefully, it will have the same effects...atleast in triggering the contractions!

4. Walking/birthing ball - These movements help to sway the hips and aid in the descent of the baby - which pushes the effacing/dilation, in theory. I can only walk so far without getting exhausted so I will continue with this; however, I know the birthing ball (ie, yoga/pilates ball) well, and know that it will help release pressure on my back and can be a key tool in the labor room to release pressure.

5. Sex/nipple stimulation - OK, in my world - nothing is TMI...so, supposedly semen has hints of prostaglandins (the hormone that triggers labor) and nipple stimulation can release the hormone Oxytocin - which is the NATURAL hormone that the body releases which is complementary to the man-made, horrible doctor version known as Pitocin.

Anyway, these are my steps....atleast until Friday or Saturday - which we will then elect a couple more inducers (namely, eating curry, licorice, etc.).

Wish me luck...