“I’m ready to have this baby already!” Pregnancy Pizza and Other Labor Induction Methods
If you’re 40 weeks pregnant then you know what I’m talking about… or maybe you’re in the early stages of pregnancy right now and can’t imagine how it feels to truly be DONE with pregnancy. Either way, all of us have heard stories (or lived them ourselves) about some of the crazy ways women try and induce labor.
After 40 weeks of growing a brand new life with your body transforming (and contorting), and all those months of imagining what it will be like to hold this little miracle you are more than ready for baby to be out of your belly and in your arms. It’s an exciting time – any day could be THE DAY. Many women are anxious to help push their bodies along in the right direction. You’re making lists of all the things you can do once you’re not pregnant anymore…like sleep on your back, for instance. You start googling the many ways to naturally help your body start the labor process; dates, acupuncture, reflexology, even something called labor induction pizza!
Pregnancy pizza may sound pretty “out there” but anecdotally many women have claimed certain foods stimulate labor. This includes spicy foods, pineapple, licorice and Chinese food. The pregnancy pizza originated from a Northern California pizza parlor called Skipolini’s. The story goes that a pregnant woman walked into the restaurant looking for something to help her give birth soon. The owner created a pizza laden with toppings and weighing over 4 pounds. The woman went into labor later that night! The rest, as they say, is history! In addition to pregnancy pizzas there are claims of labor inducing brownies and chicken pot pies from local San Francisco eateries, all of which sound like delicious ways to go into labor.
Other natural labor induction methods include more prosaic techniques such as relaxation, meditation and visualization. Warm baths and long walks are also on the list of ways to help coax baby out into the world. It is theorized that nipple stimulation releases a hormone that helps stimulate contractions. A similar theory applies to sex as a natural labor induction method.
If you’re looking to avoid the potential heartburn of an ingredient laden pregnancy pizza, acupuncture in the weeks preceding your due date is a gentle, effective method for preparing your body to give birth naturally. Here at Mama Lounge in San Francisco this treatment consists of a series of 4 appointments that commence when a woman is full term. These treatments help to body do what is a designed to do at this stage by gently nudging the body into alignment so it is in the best possible shape for giving birth. The needles help relax the cervix and pelvic muscles as well as stimulate labor hormones.In addition to supporting your body in its journey towards labor and birth, these four sessions are a good time to check in—address any anxiety leading up to the big day, improve sleep, rejuvenate and connect with your baby. It truly is the most nourishing thing I know to do for your body, mind, spirit and child during your final days of pregnancy.
Women who have received Birth Preparation Acupuncture in the third trimester respond more quickly to (and often don’t even need) natural induction treatments. We strongly encourage starting acupuncture at week 35 if you’re looking to avoid interventions. It constantly excites me how acupuncture supports our bodies for the birthing process. Your body is amazing and is performing a miraculous task (and working very hard to do so) by creating your child…thank your body and nourish your mind and spirit but treating yourself to Birth Preparation Acupuncture.
