Chemical Induction in Hospital
The orthodox medications used to induce labour can potentially have harmful affects. Dr Parker (Obstetrician) comments – “These are powerful drugs and medications used to induce labour,” he says. “Given in the wrong amounts or not monitored appropriately, patients can put their baby at risk of hyperstimulation of the uterus – too many contractions which causes foetal distress. There can be uterine rupture because the contractions are too strong and hard. There can be excessive bleeding and other problems that may ultimately result in an emergency C-section. Women are also more likely to need an epidural if their labour is induced as the contractions they experience are not ‘natural’ and are often more painful and intense.
Chemical Inductions are on the Rise
According to national statistics, labour inductions nationwide have doubled to 20 percent, in Kent Labour inductions are performed for between 16 and 20% of patients. In some areas of the country this is as high as 34%. Likewise, Caesarean section rates are also on the rise – hovering between 23 and 30% in 2009.
Are we simply too eager for our babies to be born!
Herbal Induction
As herbalists we subscribe to the idea that the body and baby knows best and if the body is in balance then the Labour process should run smoothly. We would not suggest inducing the baby using herbs unless the patient wanted to avoid a chemical induction, it’s best to leave nature to take it’s course and to go into labour naturally without intervention.
If you are overdue and refuse a medical induction you can ask for monitoring to check your baby’s wellbeing, instead of choosing induction. Many of the women that I’ve treated in the past don’t realise that you can ask to be monitored and allow more time for the baby to come on it’s own.
When treating women who have gone overdue it’s often best if I have been treating the patient throughout her pregnancy, this allows me a good amount of time to get to know the patient and I prefer to give a herbal mix prior to an induction mix to prepare the body for labour. However, I do also treat many women who I have never seen before and want to take a herbal induction mix.
A herbal induction is very different to an induction in hospital. The herbal medicines given are tailored to the individual patient, no patient is given the same mix – it depends on their medical history, their general constitution and their antenatal history.
For first time mums it is common to have some anxiety around birthing their baby and so often I include herbs that will calm the patient down. This relieves tension in the overall system and allows the hormonal messengers to work without the interference of high stress hormones.
The herbs included in an induction mix include herbs which ripen and soften the cervix, herbs which can assist in the body’s own production of oxytocin and herbs to tone and strengthen the Uterine muscle in preparation for birth. I usually always include a herb to relieve tension since tension can cause the labour to be more painful.
A herbal induction mix is very different to a chemical induction because it encourages the release of your body’s own hormones whereas with a medical induction a synthetic form of oxytocin is given. Since this hormone is not naturally produced by the body it can disrupt the finely tuned balance of hormones which are produced in labour. Many women who have a herbal induction find that that they have steady labours with regular contractions and they are not the kind of contractions you may experience with a chemical induction, i.e. they’re manageable!
A herbal induction mix requires a consultation and medicine is prescribed on the day for the patient to take away with them.
A 30 minute consultation is all that’s needed for patients that I’ve seen before and costs £30. For those patients that I haven’t seen before I would need 1hr and the cost for this is £40. The herbal induction mix is usually around £10.
Testimonial for the Herbal Induction Mix
“A bouncing baby girl model arrived to day at 01:36. 7lb12 or 3230g with all fingers and toes where they should be! She is called Nina Carole 
a massive thanks goes out to Jodie Foreman for the herbal tonic to move things along.” S. Spratley, Folkestone
(Quoted from Facebook with permission)
For more information and to discuss your needs further do contact us on 01303 760001
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