The desire to meet your baby or move past the discomforts of late pregnancy often leads to exploring ways to start labor early. Labor induction is the artificial stimulation of uterine contractions before labor begins naturally. When considering induction at 37 weeks, it is essential to understand the medical context, safety implications, and limited effectiveness of most non-medical approaches. The safety of both parent and baby must remain the primary concern.
Understanding Early Term (37 Weeks) and Safety
The medical community classifies pregnancy from 37 weeks and zero days through 38 weeks and six days as “Early Term.” This contrasts with “Full Term,” which begins at 39 weeks. Although a baby born at 37 weeks is no longer considered preterm, the final weeks in the womb are crucial for rapid development.
Elective induction, which is induction without a medical reason, is generally not recommended before 39 weeks. Between the 37th and 39th week, the baby’s brain undergoes a significant growth spurt and develops crucial connections. Lungs are also completing their maturation, and babies born at 37 weeks have a higher risk of breathing problems, feeding difficulties, and jaundice compared to those born at 39 weeks.
Discouraging self-induction at this stage is primarily due to the increased chance of the newborn requiring a stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Induction at 37 weeks is reserved for situations where the medical benefit of delivery outweighs the risks of remaining pregnant, such as maternal health complications.
Non-Medical Methods People Commonly Try
Many pregnant individuals attempt non-medical methods to encourage labor, often based on anecdotal evidence rather than scientific proof. These methods offer a sense of control over the timing of birth. It is important to discuss any home induction attempts with a healthcare provider beforehand.
Sexual intercourse is a frequently mentioned method with a plausible biological mechanism. Semen contains prostaglandins, which are hormone-like compounds used in medical induction to help soften and ripen the cervix. Additionally, orgasm releases oxytocin, which is responsible for uterine contractions. However, most high-quality studies have not found a strong correlation between sexual activity and an earlier onset of labor in low-risk pregnancies.
Nipple stimulation is another method that works by causing the release of oxytocin, directly triggering uterine contractions. While some studies suggest it can shorten the duration of labor, overstimulation can lead to hyperstimulation of the uterus. This causes contractions that are too long or too strong, which can compromise the baby’s oxygen supply. For this reason, it should not be attempted unsupervised, particularly at 37 weeks.
Walking is popular, with the theory that gravity and rhythmic movement help the baby descend and put pressure on the cervix. While exercise is beneficial during pregnancy, there is limited clinical evidence that walking alone will initiate labor if the body is not already prepared.
Herbal Remedies
Similarly, herbal remedies like red raspberry leaf tea and evening primrose oil are often tried. Red raspberry leaf tea is thought to tone the uterine muscles, but studies do not definitively show it can start labor. Evening primrose oil, taken orally or vaginally, contains compounds thought to aid in cervical ripening, but scientific evidence of its effectiveness is mixed, and some studies suggest potential risks.
Medical Induction Procedures and Indications
When labor induction is performed clinically, it is due to a medical indication where continuing the pregnancy poses a greater risk than delivery. At 37 weeks, such indications often involve maternal health conditions.
Indications for Medical Induction
These conditions include preeclampsia or gestational hypertension, where high blood pressure affects the parent’s health. Other reasons include poor fetal growth, known as fetal growth restriction (IUGR), or insufficient amniotic fluid (oligohydramnios).
Pharmacological Methods
Medical procedures for induction fall into pharmacological and mechanical categories. Pharmacological methods primarily involve synthetic hormones. Prostaglandin medications, placed vaginally or taken orally, are used to “ripen” the cervix, making it softer and thinner in preparation for labor. Once the cervix is favorable, a synthetic form of oxytocin, known as Pitocin, is administered intravenously to stimulate strong, regular uterine contractions.
Mechanical Methods
Mechanical methods may include a membrane sweep, where a healthcare provider separates the amniotic sac membranes from the lower uterine wall to encourage the natural release of prostaglandins. Another procedure is an amniotomy, or “breaking the water,” which involves rupturing the amniotic sac. This procedure is only performed when the cervix is partially dilated and the baby’s head is engaged in the pelvis. It carries a risk of infection if labor does not follow quickly.
Crucial Safety Guidelines and When to Seek Medical Help
Attempting to start labor, even with non-medical methods, requires strict attention to maternal and fetal well-being. Any decision to induce should be made only after consulting with a healthcare professional to ensure there are no underlying complications. Safety monitoring is paramount, as certain attempts can lead to complications like uterine hyperstimulation.
Immediate medical attention is necessary if concerning symptoms arise during late pregnancy or after attempting induction. These warning signs indicate distress or serious complications:
- A significant reduction or complete cessation of fetal movement.
- Severe and persistent headaches, especially when accompanied by blurry vision or swelling of the face and hands, which may signal preeclampsia.
- Vaginal bleeding heavier than simple spotting.
- A sudden gush of clear fluid, indicating the water has broken.
- Severe, unrelenting abdominal pain or a fever.
The onset of any of these symptoms warrants an immediate assessment at a labor and delivery unit.