QuestionNow Iam 33 weeks pregnancy.My due date is on march 20th.What my question is I read some articles regarding preterm birth and postterm birth.What are the causing faxtors for preterm birth? and How can we avoid them.I read to avoid postterm birth I can go for induced labor in home by approching some tips like vigurous walking,sex,taking castor oil,bumpy car ride etc.Plz suggest me to get safe and natural delivary by avoiding pre and post term delivaries.
AnswerAs long as you are healthy, active, and eating well, preterm delivery should not be a problem. In the absence of medical conditions, nobody really knows what causes preterm births, but they are relatively rare in healthy mothers with healthy babies.
As far as preventing a postterm baby, first remember that normal gestation lasts as long as 42 weeks. Some babies really need that extra time in the womb, so don't be in too big a hurry to evict the baby before he/she is ready! Sex is a great way to encourage labor because semen contains prostaglandins, which are the hormones the body uses to soften and dilate the cervix. Walking is great exercise, and the rocking movement can help the baby settle into your pelvis. Castor oil is questionable; I've heard roughly 50/50 success rates, which really means it's not doing much at all, and it causes very unpleasant side effects. I personally wouldn't recommend the bumpy car ride or anything else rough or violent; you don't want to risk placental abruption or prematurely breaking your water.
What works for me, and what I like to recommend to others, is relaxation. Stress causes a fight-or-flight response in your body, and when your body senses that it is not safe, it will hold the baby in until you do feel safe. So by encouraging happiness and relaxation, maximizing a stress-free environment, you will be giving yourself the green light to go into labor at the earliest possible moment. Get a massage, take warm baths, go swimming, enjoy your favorite hobbies...whatever puts a glow on your face and makes you smile all over, that's what will put you in your "safe place" for labor.
