Midwifery History and Witches

Just a taste of a much larger discussion. History for most of history was mostly ‘his story’. Through the majorly of it, women were mostly illiterate as they were not allowed to be educated like men. But until relatively recently, men would not provide care for women and their gynecological and childbearing needs even when they became physicians - as their reputations would be tarnished if they associated with women’s genitalia and their business. It was the domain of women. Women supported women.

Midwifery is mentioned as far back as biblical times, and recorded in Egypt as early as 1900 BCE. Birth was a normal part of family life, men were kept out, and certain women in each community took on the role as midwife, by following and learning from the elder midwives. They used natural remedies. Some did secretly train under physicians. In the medieval times, there are some conflicting historical accounts whether or not they were falsely accused of witchcraft and were persecuted- especially when some unsuccessful outcomes became apparent, their lack of formal training, and use of natural remedies - all a catch 22, as they were not allowed to do formal training or to practice medicine, had no access to medicines, so they used natural remedies, and were thought to go against the church, medical hierarchy and legislature which were often intertwined.

Today, thankfully there have been many beneficial changes like standardized formal education for women in the practice of midwifery, which includes sexual and reproductive health as well as equal rights of women in most developed countries. We do have a way to go in the United states and other countries, as barriers and obstacles to midwifery practice still exist. Midwifery is respected by the medical profession and encouraged for low risk population by leading health organizations. It’s now organized into a profession and supported by legislation as well as biblical religions. Hard to do the real history of midwifery justice in a blog, but at least I can reassure you I am a good witch.

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The key to a positive birth is feeling confident, strong, relaxed, and empowered during the entire process, regardless of the twists and turns it may take. I give my full heart and all I know in everything I do to support Mommas.

Numbness and Tingling (Paresthesias) During Pregnancy

Numbness, tingling, pain and other unusual sensations in the fingers and toes during pregnancy are quite common. Termed paresthesias, these sensations are related to the pressure on local nerves from the growing uterus, fluid retention and/or your altered posture.

To Reduce the Frequency of Paresthesias in Pregnancy

Periodically check the way you are sitting and standing, making sure that you are erect, using your abdominal muscles instead of your back muscles. Keep your pelvis tilted forward so that your back is straight, not arched, and your shoulders relaxed down but not slumped.

Pay scrupulous attention to good body mechanics, meaning that you should use your arms, legs, and abdominal muscles to do your work, never your back. Get close to an object to move it rather than pull or pick it up towards you.

Exercise regularly at least 5 times per week for 30 minutes. Good options are:

• Brisk walking

• Cycling

• Dancing 

• Swimming 

• Pilates

• Prenatal yoga 

• Low impact aerobics

Try a prenatal class in one of the above modalities to help you to work on correct posturing, flexibility and building of muscle strength. Exercise, stretch, elevate and massage the affected extremity as often as you can.

Avoid movements that are jerky or painful, and make sure you are also getting regular daily rest periods off your feet. Sometimes lying down, pelvic tilts on your hands and knees, or assuming a yin, gentle or restorative yoga posture may help.

Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered, spring or well water a day between meals, at least 20-30 minutes before or 2 hours after meals. This is especially important if your hands and feet are a bit swollen with fluid.

Make sure your diet is healthy and nourishing, and includes lots of: 

• Fresh organic fruits and vegetables

• Whole grains

• Nuts and nut butters

• Beans

• Seeds and seed products like tahini 

• Organic tofu and tempeh 

• Organic whole eggs

• Chicken or turkey

• Beef, lamb, and wild game

• Wild Alaskan salmon

• Organic fresh raw whole dairy foods—ideally goat or sheep

• Organic cold expeller pressed extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil or goat butter

• Use plenty of fresh ginger and tumeric in your cooking

Avoid highly processed white flour sugary foods, unhealthy refined vegetable oils and partially hydrogenated fats.

If the sensations are mainly in your hands, this is often termed carpal tunnel syndrome. Periodically elevate your arms, flex and extend your fingers and roll your shoulders to see if this brings relief. Try hanging your arms out of bed at night. Avoid or modify repetitive activities like typing. Try a special wrist brace to wear. Take 100-200 mg a day of Vitamin B6. Most of the supplements and herbal remedies I recommend are available on my customized online holistic apothecary. Find the best supplements that have gone through my thorough screening process there. Look in the category for carpel tunnel syndrome or search them individually. My online dispensary is a convenient way for you to purchase my hand-picked, professional-grade, whole food supplements and other natural health products. Ordering is simple, and the products will be shipped directly to your home or work within a few days.

Practice authentic yoga regularly, to ensure proper body alignment and full use of your lung capacity. Poor posture and shallow breathing have a ripple effect and negatively impact your health, even carpal tunnel syndrome.  

Do the following wrist exercises several times per day.  When home, get out your yoga mat and support your body with props like blankets, bolsters or blocks  as needed. 

Wrist Flexes

Sit or stand straight and hold your arms out in front of you with palms facing down. Flex one wrist so that your fingers point towards the floor, and use the other hand to increase the stretch. Hold for 20-30 seconds, then repeat on the other side. You can also hold your hands in namaste or prayer position, move each hand forward and backward using the other hand for resistance.

Then press the palms and fingers firmly together in front of your chest, and hold for a few minutes. Finally, reverse your hands so that the back of your hands are pressing together, fingers pointing down. Hold as is comfortable. 

Hand Circles

Circle your fisted hands in each full circular direction, then shake them out for 15-30 seconds.

Wrist Stretch

Place a folded yoga blanket in the middle of your mat for extra knee padding. Get on your hands and knees, with your feet flexed, and your fingers facing backwards, towards your knees. Press down evenly on your hands as you move your hips back enough to feel the wrists stretch. Stretch for as as long as comfortable.

Then switch it up so the backs of your hands are on the floor, palms facing upward, with your fingers now facing forward.  Lift up as you evenly press the backs of your hands into the floor, and move your body to feel the stretch in your wrists. Again, hold for as long as comfortable. You can also do this with your fingers pointing inwards, and again with your fingers pointing outwards, palms up and palms down. 

For those with any sort of chronic symptoms, including carpal tunnel syndrome, in which serious causes have been ruled out and none of the natural or allopathic remedies help, consider Clarity Breathwork. Read the book The Mindbody Prescription By Dr John Sarno, MD. He is an amazing pioneering physician whose brilliant approach has helped hundreds of thousands of people without drugs, physical measure or surgery. Also check out Brandon Bays’ book The Journey, and her intensive workshops for extremely effective mindbody cutting edge methods that have also lead to transformational healing for thousands of people around the world.

Seek out a classical homeopath to find a remedy specific to your symptoms. A chiropractor, osteopath, acupuncturist, or massage therapist may also be helpful.

If you need more personal guidance, schedule a session with me.

If none of these suggestions work for you or your paresthesias become severe, persistent, or worrisome, or they are associated with other unusual symptoms, consult a specialist in orthopedics or neurology. 

Battling with low back or pelvic discomfort? Having common pregnancy aches and pains and need some additional support?

Try Bellefit’s prenatal support wear. You can purchase here.

Want a comprehensive holistic guide to the journey of getting pregnant, being pregnant, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum and beyond? Check out the second edition of my international and national best selling book Natural Birth Secrets.

Prenatal & Mindful Hatha Flow Yoga Class Series Online Course

$147.00

This course has 16 yoga classes plus bonus material:

• Seven ~ 60-80 minute Prenatal Yoga classes

• Seven ~ 60-80 minute Mindful Hatha Flow Yoga classes

• A soothing Gentle Slow Flow Yoga class

• A Restorative Yoga class for deep relaxation

• Bonus videos of an hour Live more advanced Vinyasa Class, shorter breaks of yoga anywhere anytime, use of props - like the wall, a chair, yoga blocks, yoga belts, yoga blankets and bolsters to enhance your practice, and practicing with your baby or pet.

The prenatal yoga 7 class series will invite you to grow, strengthen, focus, train and enhance your mind, body, heart and spirit. Discover for yourself the calming, healing and transformative power of yoga - intentional meditative movement with breath. Classes begin with meditation made simple using breathwork, gradual warm up, increasing difficulty as well as yoga play, gentle cool down, and end with restorative practices in deep relaxation. They are slow flowing, with space to explore specific poses but are meant to challenge you. Classes are different each session, with classical fundamental alignment based asana fused with modern postures and their many modifications and varied creative transitions. The classes are taught with modifications for pregnancy, incorporate positions for positively influencing baby’s position and active birthing as well as those to relieve common discomforts in pregnancy. They also are fused with meditative, breathwork and visualization techniques and tools for coping with and easing sensations of labor and birth, which will transform your childbirth experience with regular practice.

The seven classes are there for you to practice a different class each day of the week or according to your own frequency, then start over again from the beginning of the series. Each class ranges from on average 60 minutes to 80 minutes, and they build on each other; following the sequence from class 1 onward is advised if it is your first time taking the series or are a beginning practitioner. Classes are mindful, at a slow safe pace, gentle but challenging, so that you build strength, flexibility & agility. They start with the basics but are for all levels, and beginners too are welcome! If you are not pregnant, you can use the prenatal classes as beginner classes, just modify as needed and use any mention of pregnancy and labor as it pertains to any labor of your own life. The need to relax into intensity and the multiple benefits of yoga practice pertain to everyone. Or simply take the general Mindful Hatha Flow Yoga Class Series online course.

Once you hone your skills, you can take the Mindful Hatha Flow 7 Class Series that follows, doing your own modifications as needed - for pregnancy or wherever you are on your yoga journey, or simply start them after you are recovered postpartum. They also build on one another and can be practiced successively until you are ready to mix and match and create your own classes and practice schedule.

Additional videos are included to enhance your practice with use of the various props, as well as a soothing gentle slow flow class and a restorative yoga class for deep relaxation (great for evening!), shorter breaks of doing it anywhere and anytime, and a live bonus video of a more advanced class.

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Posterior Position: Practical Steps for Prevention and Remedy

Art by Katie Atkinson @spiritysol

A baby in a posterior position is facing your abdomen, and baby’s back is towards your back. Some babies are born easily in the posterior position with baby facing mama’s face “sunny side up.” This is especially if Mama:

• Has given birth before

• Is carrying a baby of average or smaller size

• Has an adequate sized pelvis

• Is committed, relaxed and prepared

• Is able to be upright, move and change positions at will

• Has the ability to eat and drink freely

• Is supported by providers who are patient, calm and trained to help baby turn

Art by Katie Atkinson @spiritysol

Other babies in posterior position can be more challenging, creating problems like not going into labor, water breaking prematurely before labor starts, slower more difficult labor progress, exhaustion, and labor felt mostly as back pain that can be harder to cope with. All of these factors increase the risk of complications, interventions and cesarean if baby can not be safely born vaginally. 

Epidurals increase the incidence of posterior babies, as well. But sometimes in prolonged labor, when Mama can no longer cope, the compassionate use of an epidural can help her give birth vaginally. 

The modern sedentary lifestyle of slouching in chairs over smart phones and computers, sitting back in sofas and car seats with associated poor posture, stress and tension in our bodies contributes to the rise in babies presenting in the posterior position. Many of us are no longer as active as our ancestors and indigenous cultures around the globe. We are not often leaning forward doing manual work, which helps baby’s heavier back come forward into the anterior position, unless we are doing activities like gardening.  

Art by Katie Atkinson @spiritysol

Ideally and actually most often, the baby will be in an anterior position facing your spine at term, or turns anterior during labor for childbirth. It is important to know when your baby moves into the optimal anterior position, so you can encourage the baby to stay there, which usually means an easier and shorter labor. 

You can learn on your own what position your baby is in. But if you are unsure, ask your practitioner for help figuring it out. Then try to pay attention to your baby’s position, without getting needlessly obsessed about it. This is easier to do when your baby moves or when momentarily lying on your back. It may take a lot of concentration to understand what is what at first, but soon you will get the hang of it.

When your baby is posterior, your tummy may look flatter and feel more squashy, and you may feel arms and legs and kicks all over the front towards the middle of your tummy. The area around your belly button may dip to a concave, saucer-like shape, and you may also experience long and painful practice contractions with a more severe lower backache as your baby tries to turn around to the anterior position to engage down into the pelvis.

When your baby is anterior, the back feels hard and smooth and rounded on one side of your tummy, and you will usually feel kicks under the side of your ribs. Your belly button will normally poke out and feel firm.

Pay attention to your posture and positioning at the time when your baby may be starting to descend into your pelvis, which is during the last 6 weeks of your first pregnancy, and the last 2-3 weeks of your subsequent pregnancies. The goal is to make room for your baby to assume the optimal position for birthing. 

The baby’s back is the heaviest side of its body, and will thus gravitate towards the lowest side of your abdomen. So, if your tummy is lower than your back (such as sitting on a chair leaning forward), the baby’s back will tend to swing anterior towards your tummy.

If your back is lower than your tummy (such as reclining back in an armchair with your feet up), then the baby’s back may swing towards your back into a posterior position. With this in mind, when you are 34 weeks onward, avoid any position where you are spending time leaning backwards with your knees higher than your pelvis.

Ideally, ditch the chairs. If you do need to sit on one, make sure your knees are lower than your pelvis, and your trunk is tilted slightly forward. If you need to work at a desk, consider a standing one at least some of the time, resting an alternating foot on a step stool.

Watch TV, read and lounge while kneeling on the floor, over a beanbag, birth ball, cushions, or sitting backwards on a straight backed dining room or kitchen chair facing and leaning on its back. 

Practice yoga to be in shape for the lunges and varied positions used to help your baby come down and out. Use yoga positions like bound angle (badha konasana) sitting with your back upright with soles of your feet together, or on your hands and knees while curving your back up like a cat followed by dropping your spine down in an arch and/or wiggling your hips from side to side. Get out your yoga mat and support your body with props like blankets, bolsters or blocks  as needed. 

Avoid crossing your legs, as it reduces the space in front of your pelvis and opens up the back. Sit on a wedge cushion in the car so your pelvis is tilted forward, and keep the seat back upright.

Avoid deep squatting until baby is anterior and well down in your pelvis or when needed in labor. Deep squatting opens up your pelvis and encourages the baby to move down, so refrain from it until your baby is in the anterior position. You can squat on a low stool or yoga blocks instead, keeping your spine upright.

Rest and sleep on your side, with two pillows under your bent right knee, which should be jackknifed up towards your chest, and keep your left leg straight out.

Swim with your belly downwards, doing the front crawl and breaststroke. The leg movements with the breaststroke in particular are great for opening your pelvis and encouraging your baby into an optimal anterior position.

If Your Baby Is Posterior

Continue the above mentioned positions, and add the following exercises for 20 to 30 minutes each, 3 times daily while watching something inspirational, romantic or that makes you laugh, or while listening to music:

Maintain a knee-chest position, with your buttocks sticking up in the air to tip the baby  back out of the pelvis so there is more room to turn around to the anterior position.

• Sway your hips back and forth and do the pelvic rock up and down while on your hands and knees.

• Crawl around the floor on your hands and knees, or hands and feet like an elephant.

• Scrub your floors or do some gardening.

• Swim belly down, kicking with straight legs only. Avoid frog leg movements.

• Lie on a slant board (using an ironing board or see-saw), with your head down and your legs up or lay with your pelvis and legs on the top stair landing or sofa and rest on your hands or forearms on a lower stair so you are at a similar incline. Jiggle your pelvis as you do this.

• Try resting and sleeping on your tummy using lots of pillows and cushions for support.

• Sit on a kneeler-rocker, which is a kneeling stool that sits you in an upright position with your knees lower than your chest, and has a rocker underneath for movement that encourages your baby to rotate. There are several types. See what is best for you. 

When baby turns to the anterior position, you can encourage descent further into your pelvis by walking around upright, gently massaging the baby’s buttocks downward, deep squatting and swimming, this time using lots of breaststroke frog leg kicking.

If you have lax abdominal muscles from several babies or lack of toning exercises, use a supportive maternity binder to keep baby in place. Bellefit makes a fine one, as pictured below. You can check them out and purchase here.

If Going Into Labor With a Posterior Baby

Starting in early labor, try the following movements involving altering the level of your hips, which help wiggle the baby down through your pelvis:

• Walk up and down stairs, sideways if you need to.

• Rock and dance from side to side.

• March or tread in place.

• Step on and off a step stool.

• Climb in and out of the birth pool.

• Lay on your side, so the part of your belly where your baby’s back is, can lean forward almost over the sofa or bed, with your upper knee resting on a lower chair.

• Consider having your midwives help to rotate the baby using a variety of external techniques, or if needed, by manually lifting your baby out of your pelvis during a contraction.

During the pushing stage of labor:

• Kneel on all fours, with the other leg up in a lunge. Switch legs periodically. You can do this standing, alternating one leg up on a chair moving towards and away from it. 

• Maintain a supported high squat in a birthing stool or hanging from a dangling squatting rope or your partner, with your bottom at least 18 inches off the floor.

• You can rest on your side with one leg straight out and the other leg bent up towards your chest, supported with pillows.

• Avoid lying back, semi-reclining, sitting or semi-sitting. 

For more information online, visit Spinning Babies, Association of Radical Midwives, or the GentlleBirth archives for Suboptimal Fetal Positions.

Check out my number one international best selling book Natural Birth Secrets and my Love Your Birth course, an online version of how I have helped thousands in my local practice.

Both resources are unique, but each provide an in depth, one-of-a-kind holistic approach created by me, a seasoned nurse midwife of over two decades, who has seen everything! It is now recommended by midwives, physicians, health care professionals around the globe, and doulas take it for their certification training.

As always, if you need more personalized guidance, schedule a consultation with me. 

'Overdue' Baby: What to Do If You’re Past Your Due Date

Although it’s totally normal to have an ‘overdue’ baby, it can be very frustrating. The ideal is to prevent it early on by knowing when you conceived and getting accurate pregnancy dates.

Try to keep busy past your due date by continuing to exercise as tolerated and planning some daily pleasurable activities to keep your morale upbeat and positive.

There is a five week time frame around the estimated due date, when babies are considered term, in which it is normal and most common for moms to go into labor.

In a well-nourished, healthy woman whose pregnancy has been accurately dated, the actual time of delivery often extends 1-2 weeks past the estimated 40-week due date. This is especially true with first-time moms.

Only a small percentage of women give birth on their due date, and most babies are indeed born at the perfect time for them.

A pregnancy is actually “postdates” when it exceeds the 42nd week of gestation. In this case, it’s still best to wait for labor to occur naturally, assuming:

• Your baby is still as active as usual

• The amount of amniotic fluid is adequate

• Your baby has a normal heart rate

• The size of your baby is estimated to be compatible with the characteristics of your pelvis

• You are healthy and there are no other pregnancy complications

Monitoring a Postdate Baby

There is an increased risk of complications associated with postdate pregnancies, mostly related to an aging placenta that ceases to function as well as it did earlier, or to a baby that continues to grow to an exceptionally large size. Therefore, there will be a need to monitor you and your baby more closely after 41 weeks. Rest assured, though, that the majority of postdate babies do just fine.

FETAL MOVEMENT COUNTS

Fetal movement demonstrates adequate nourishment and oxygen from a healthy placenta. A baby will significantly decrease its movement as the condition of the placenta deteriorates. With that in mind, a wonderful way you can monitor the continued well-being of your baby throughout the third trimester is to do daily fetal movement counts. 

Pick a time when your baby is usually most active, often this is after meals, when resting or at night when lying in bed. Make sure you count at least 10 distinct moves in 2 hours. If you notice less, the baby may be sleeping. Try again a little later after drinking 2 large glasses of fruit juice, a cup of coffee and eating a complex carbohydrate and natural sugar meal, such as peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread. Lay down after 30-40 minutes and count the number of moves. If baby is not moving after this, or you still feel that the baby is moving less than usual in a 12 hour period, contact your practitioner right away. The baby needs to be evaluated, and if in trouble, will need to be delivered as soon as possible.

IN-OFFICE TESTING

Two tests commonly done in the office to monitor the condition of the placenta and baby’s well-being are the twice weekly NST (non-stress test) and the weekly BPP (biophysical profile sonogram).

The NST uses an external electronic fetal monitor to note the character of the baby’s heart rate and its response to fetal movement. A desired response is a fetal heart rate that varies from beat to beat within the normal range, and increases at least twice when the baby moves, 15 beats per minute for at least 15 seconds within 20 minutes. Out of hospital midwives are asked and can use a fetoscope or doppler to check fetal heart rate and record accelerations manually, but it is less accurate, without a recorded tracing, not the standard of care nor evidence based; it is also not supported by modern medicine, or most of the collaborative obstetricians midwives work with.

The BPP uses ultrasound to examine the fetus and its environment in utero by assessing a variety of parameters including the baby’s movements, muscle tone, the placenta and the amount of amniotic fluid. The ultrasound can also provide estimates on the baby’s growth and weight, but they are only estimates and not always accurate at this late stage of pregnancy. Try to schedule this test during a time the baby is usually active and moving the most. On the day of the test, make sure you are drinking your usual daily 8-10 glasses of water so the baby has plenty of amniotic fluid. 30-40 minutes before the test, make sure to have 2 large glasses of fruit juice and a natural sugar/carbohydrate meal or other foods that usually wake baby up and causes lots of movement. You can even have a cup of coffee or tea just in case the baby is still sleeping after the meal. The test is somewhat dependent on the baby moving, and we would not want a false report of no fetal movement indicative of fetal stress, when the baby was just sleeping healthfully.

Natural Measures to Help Prevent Problems Related to Postdates

These recommendations are especially helpful if you had complications from postdates in prior pregnancies, you are attempting a vaginal birth after a previous cesarean, or you have other complications such as diabetes or high blood pressure and it is not advisable to let the pregnancy extend past term. Research on natural induction methods is sparse, but growing. Sometimes one remedy or a combination of them does the trick, and all is well. Sometimes, no matter what we do, we can not get labor started. Nothing works consistently, including the medications used in hospitals. Ultimately, unless there is a scheduled cesarean birth, when a baby comes into the world is ultimately not in our human control.

KNOW YOUR STATUS

If you are planning a pregnancy, keep an accurate record of your cycle and know the first day of your last menstrual period. Or better yet, the day of conception around the time of ovulation. If there is a question about your dates (if you are breastfeeding, recently miscarried, went off the birth control pill, or have long  or irregular cycles), an early first trimester ultrasound can accurately date your pregnancy. This will prevent a lot of aggravation later on, like unnecessary testing, pressure to deliver and induction based on miscalculated dates.

EAT RIGHT FOR BABY

Maintain a healthy well balanced diet including lots of:

• Organic fresh fruits and vegetables

• Whole grains

• Seeds and seed products like tahina 

• Nuts and nut butters

• Beans

• Organic tofu and tempeh  

• Organic whole eggs

• Turkey or chicken

• Beef, lamb, or wild game

• Wild Alaskan salmon 

• Organic fresh raw whole dairy-ideally goat or sheep

Use healthy fats for cooking, such as organic cold pressed extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil or goat butter. Drink at least 64 ounces of filtered, spring or well water or herbal tea per day, at least 20-30 minutes before meals. Limit intake of fruit juice and refined white flour, sugary products, and refined vegetable oils or partially hydrogenated fat. Aside from being unhealthy and fattening, the refined sugars and starches grow big babies that are harder to push out.

Make sure to eat plenty of dates and pineapples - some swear by them to encourage labor. I am not convinced, but no harm trying.

Prepare Your Mind

Prepare for a deeply positive childbirth experience. It is very important to enter labor and birth with positive feelings, trusting your body and the whole birth process.

It is helpful to write a positive birth vision, what you wish your labor and birth to be like from start to finish, and include the role and involvement of all persons who will be there.

This is something you and your partner can think about and write together. You may write as little or as much as you like, but enjoy thinking about this special time in your life. 

There are a number of methods to help you get ready for the amazing experience to come:

• Childbirth classes

• Hypnosis for birth in adjunct 

• Gentle, Prenatal and Restorative Yoga 

• Breathwork, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation techniques (yoga nidra)

• Watching positive birth movies

• Listening to inspiring podcasts and birth summits

• Books. Some of my favorites are:

  • Mindful Birthing by Nancy Bardacke

  • Orgasmic Birth by Elizabeth Davis and Debbie Pascale Bonaro

  • Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin 

  • Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent 

  • Natural Birth Secrets by me, Anne Margolis! 

Accept and express feelings that might be holding you back, such as anxiety or fear about childbirth or becoming a mother, uncertainty about your changing role as a person or relationship with loved ones, and hesitation about giving up the special attention you’ve enjoyed while being pregnant. Do not hesitate to talk with a close friend, family member, childbirth educator, or therapist, as labor and birth is heavily influenced by your emotions. Often, simply sharing and releasing ambivalent or troubling feelings does wonders to help you open up, let go and give birth. When that does not help, try releasing it from your body with breathwork.

Practice the following thoughts daily while doing slow deep breathing in a quiet meditative space: 

Spend some time saying goodbye to your pregnancy and inviting your baby to come out. Tell yourself that you and your baby are ready for labor and birth to occur. Imagine your uterus contracting. Visualize your cervix softening and opening, and picture your baby descending through the birth canal so you can cradle your beautiful newborn child in your arms. Affirm that you will surrender, let yourself be relaxed and open so that your body will do what it was perfectly designed to do - give birth to a new human being.  

HERBAL SUPPORT

Most of the supplements and herbal remedies I recommend are available on my customized online holistic apothecary. Find the best supplements that have gone through my thorough screening process there. Look in the category for labor stimulation support or search them individually. My online dispensary is a convenient way for you to purchase my hand-picked, professional-grade, whole food supplements and other natural health products. Ordering is simple, and the products will be shipped directly to your home or work within a few days.

Drink fresh infused Red Raspberry leaf tea regularly. Among its many benefits, it encourages more effective uterine activity and thus an easier birth. It is optimal to make your own by adding a generous handful of the dried herb to 1 quart of water. Let it soak in a glass canning jar for approximately one hour, then strain. You can add honey, fresh mint leaves and/or lemon juice to taste and drink several times per day.

Dr. Christopher’s Birth Prep herbal formulation is designed to cause an increase in toning contractions in late pregnancy and prepare your body for labor and birth. It can be taken during the last 6 weeks of pregnancy under supervision by your provider. The recommended cycle is 1 capsule per day at week 34-36, 2 capsules per day at week 37, 2 capsules twice per day at week 38 onward, until you have your baby.

Make your own wonderful late pregnancy herbal tonic, to be used 37 weeks onward. Combine 1 dropperful each of red raspberry leaf, partridge berry, blue vervain and cramp bark with ¼ dropperful each of wild yam and motherwort in a separate tincture bottle and shake to mix well. Take 1/2 dropperful of the mixture a few times daily. You can double the dose in the last week before your due date. Other reputable herbal brands include Gaia, Wish Garden, Herb Pharm and Eclectic Institute.

You can take Evening Primrose oil capsules, 500 mg daily, as early as 36 weeks to help ripen the cervix. 

At 38 weeks gestation, start inserting 6-8 caps of Evening Primrose oil deep inside your vagina behind the cervix every 8-12 hours if:

• This is your first baby OR

• You have a history of post-term pregnancies

At 41 weeks gestation, start inserting Evening Primrose at the dose above if:

• Your cervix is still not ready for labor as measured by internal exam AND 

• Your bag of waters is intact

You should have a ripe cervix within a few days. At 41 weeks, you can also increase the oral 500 mg dose to three times daily. 

GET IN THE MOOD

As long as your bag of waters is still intact and you do not have a history of premature labor, engage in frequent sexual intercourse, especially after 36 weeks. Semen contains prostaglandins which can help ripen the cervix for labor, and reaching climax can bring on uterine contractions that may stimulate labor if the cervix is ripe and the baby is ready. The same energy that gets baby in, gets baby out, so turn up the sensual and make lots of love.

She is dancing to the music on her phone.

GET MOVING

Likewise, if you do not have a history of preterm labor, engage in regular moderate exercise like brisk walking, cycling, dancing, swimming or low impact aerobics for at least 30 minutes 5 days per week. As you get closer to term, moving around while upright uses gravity to help get the baby in an optimal position for birth, as well as press on the cervix and cause it to ripen and stimulate contractions.

As women get closer to the term, it is common to feel an increased frequency, length and intensity of Braxton Hicks contractions as the uterine muscle warms up for labor. These contractions are felt as occasional lower abdominal menstrual-like cramping in early pregnancy. But, as you get closer to term, you can actually feel your uterus ball up and harden, often from the top on downward before it softens again. They are usually brief, painless and irregular without pattern, increase with activity and resolve with rest. 

If you do not feel such uterine activity beginning at 39 weeks, you can do nipple stimulation every 10 minutes for an hour 3 times per day to stimulate contractions. To do this, roll the end of your nipple between your fingers and compress and pull slightly as a suckling baby would do. Alternately, you can, or use a breast pump, which will come in handy postpartum. 

Natural Ways to Bring on Labor

Only use the below methodologies if you have reached or passed your due date and you have discussed options with your practitioner.

Increase nipple stimulation to every five minutes for 2 hours, 4-5 times per day. It may take several hours, but with a little persistence, this can get labor going. Nipple stimulation causes release of your body’s own oxytocin, the hormone that ripens the cervix and stimulates uterine contractions. Don’t stop until labor is progressing on its own.

Take homeopathic Cimicifuga 30c, 4-5 pellets, alternating with Caulophyllum 30c, 4-5 pellets every hour for 12 hours. Repeat for two days. This gently stimulates your cervix to ripen and labor contractions to begin.

Massage your uterus with Castor oil until you get a contraction, and then repeat every 5 minutes until a labor pattern is established on its own.

If all else fails, you can try drinking Castor oil. This induces labor by stimulating your bowels, so be prepared for the possibility of diarrhea. Take 2 ounces of Castor oil in orange juice every hour for a total of 3 times. Two ounces of vodka, brandy or bourbon can be added to this mixture to loosen you up psychologically if needed. After each drink, go for a walk around your house (staying close to a bathroom!) and then take a hot shower, letting the water flow onto your nipples and persistently massage your belly with some of the Castor oil.

If still no labor, there are other things we can recommend like an enema, gently stretching your cervix open and stripping your membranes (separating the membranes from their attachment to the lower uterine wall), or as a last resort, breaking your water and/or medication if your baby needs to be born without delay.

If you need more personal guidance, schedule a consultation with me. I am happy to help!