Perhaps your due day of delivery is approaching and you’re thinking of how to induce labor due to the anxiety of holding your angle in your own hands?
Maybe you’ve heard about the special midwives brew and how it helps induce labor when you feel like the pregnancy is long overdue?
Hold on before you proceed..
Have you had a talk with your doctor? Inducing labor using home remedies without consulting your doctor maybe unsafe to both of you.
If your doctor approves it, they will suggest specific recipes and the ones you should avoid.
If you’re still interested in the method after the doctor’s approval, keep in mind that the taste isn’t pleasing down the throat to the stomach in any way!
Midwives Brew Ingredients
There are tens of midwives brew recipes, but we’ll look at the favorite combination that has been proven to work the magic pretty safely and fast.
- Almond Butter – 2 tbsp
- Lemon verbena tea – 250ml or 8oz
- Castor Oil – 2 tbsp
- Apricot Juice – 300ml or 10oz
How to Prepare Midwives Brew
- Have the water boiling and prepare a strong brew with verbena tea. Leave the tea bag for up to 10 minutes.
- Mix the rest of the ingredients into a blender machine. Blend the mixture completely to form a smooth blend.
- Drink a full glass of concoction before you eat anything.
The concoction is more effective when it’s slightly warm but you can drink it over ice if you feel it’s unbearable to the stomach when warm.
How Safe is Midwives Brew?
To determine the level of safety of the concoction, we’ll look at the composition of the fundamental components and how they contribute to the effectiveness of the midwives brew. Let’s get to it.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is the primary ingredient responsible for inducing labor. It has laxative properties that cause spasms and help in digestive health.
Accordingly, castor oil can give rise to spasming on the uterine muscles that may result to contractions and in consequence induce labor.
Almond Butter
Almond butter are simply almonds that have been grounded with a blender into a creamy spread. When heated, it imparts a nutty sweat aroma that spreads.
You may need to talk with your doctor if you’re allergic to almond nuts for a perfect replacement with the same effect.
Lemon Verbena Oil
Several recipes include lemon verbena oil to improve the flavor of the blend.
It has also been found to lessen muscles and joints inflammation to speed up the healing process.
Even though little research has been done to connect lemon verbena oil with labor, it has proven benefits in relieving body pain when used with most pain relieving therapies.
Apricot Juice
Apricot is a fruit that can be cooked, dried, eaten law or processed into a tasty juice.
It is loaded with amazing nutrients and minerals with tons of health benefits.
It is rich in iron, vitamins, and antioxidants essential during pregnancy. For pregnant women, it is helpful in settling indigestion and nausea.
When to Take Midwives Brew
Only take the concoction if your body is prepared for labor. Even if you’re anxious to hold your little one, it is recommended not to induce labor if your pregnancy is not within 39 and 40 weeks.
By this time, your body is ready for labor and your baby is prepared for delivery.
You’re likely to expose yourself earlier to irregular or painful contractions if it’s not the due date.
For your body to respond better, it is recommended you take the full glass within 30 minutes when hungry.
Your doctor may suggest a medical induction earlier on prior the due calendar date if you have a medical condition that may be threatening you and your baby.
How Effective Is Midwives Brew?
There exists no scientific research that backs successful outcomes of the midwives brew. A lot remains to explain why the outcomes are different.
There are, however, tons of anecdotal reports that show effectiveness of midwives brew. The study was done on women at 40 weeks pregnant.
Those given midwives brew had started labor in 24 hours through vaginal delivery. Only a small percent of the women were not able to deliver through the normal way.
Lots of success stories have been reported by women on induced labor via castor oil and midwives brew even within a timeline of 12-hours.
Midwives Brew Side Effects
Success rate will defer and most mothers may have severe side effects, so it’s important to prepare for the challenges ahead. The most notable ones are:
Diarrhea and dehydration: You may have watery stools though it may not be serious that may last for a couple of days.
During this period, you’ll lose a lot of water so make sure you take plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
Nausea: You’re likely to feel dizziness so it’s important you’re settled in the house when the midwives brew is working.
Exhaustion or weakness: Midwives brew may drain your body energy and make you to feel restless.
Allergic reaction: You may have rash or itchiness if your body is allergic to either of the midwives brew ingredients.
In most instances, the main culprit is the castor oil though the symptoms will go away in a few days.
Only talk to your doctor if they’re persistent or life threatening like trouble breathing.
The one reason to have a medic advice ahead is to help you cope up with unpleasant outcomes. You’ll be provided with close guidance until you birth.
Other Ways to Induce Labor
If you try midwives brew and it’s not effective, or you’re probably reluctant about the taste and potential side effects, you may try either of the following home remedies as well.
Evening primrose oil: This method requires you to take the product orally and vaginally from 38-weeks. It has prostaglandins that softens the cervix.
Sex: Like evening primrose oil, male ejaculations contain high levels of prostaglandins that will soften the cervix.
Three times ejaculations every day after 40 weeks has been found to be the most effective.
Nipple stimulation: At 40 weeks, nipple stimulation has shown to cause contraction of uterus.
Spicy foods: Lots of people cite its success, but there are no research scientific studies that backs up the claim. Take it at your own risk if you’re allergic to spicy foods.
Exercise: This one is the most natural labor inducing method that’s even recommended by doctors. Long walks or stairs climbing will help a deal.
Bottom Line
Waiting for labor to start naturally may be hardest, but it’s the safest way unquestionable.
Besides, you’ve carried the baby for nine months and it should be a matter of days before you deliver.
If you’re still anxious, the methods above are safe to induce labor but you may have to bear with less desired effects for a few days.
What’s important is to consult the doctor ahead on your intentions. You’ll be provided with guidance on whether to go ahead with midwives brew or what alternatives you should use.