nipple stimulation

[AmyC]

So during the induction conversation yesterday, I asked my doctor about some other options she would/wouldn't recommend. (Sex, EPO--both of which she said she had no problem with.) She specifically mentioned nipple stimulation and said she recommends against it.

Why? Because it releases "actual oxytocin" and it can be very powerful and, she believes, dangerous in an uncontrolled situation. (Leading, potentially, to fetal distress.) She likened it to when doctors used to give pitocin under the tongue.

Now I think about IV pitocin as a risky business that certainly can result in fetal distress, but I guess the idea is that it is controlled, the babies are monitored, and swift action is possible if necessary.

This has gotten me wondering about nipple stimulation....I mean, I'm assuming that if you stop, it eventually stops? (It's not just coming continuously.) The contractions either calm down or it gives labor that jump start you were seeking, but the contractions that continue aren't hyper-stimulated by the nipple stimulation you did whenever. Are they?

I mean, she okayed sex and I'm assuming that means orgasm (also oxytocin-producing) is okay.

While I'm at it, I'll ask about the how-to's of nipple stimulation. Warm wet washcloth rubbed over nipples in a shower? Some kind of manual tweaking? (sounds so unpleasant to me.) Manual or electric breastpump?

[JennaW]

Well the CNM I saw yesterday recommended it as a natural way to induce labor. Although I have read some of the things your OB was saying, it seems to me the risks are a little over stated, especially if you are using your hands or getting "assistance" from a partner rather then using say a breast pump. And like you said, if it is causing too strong of contractions you just stop.

What the CNM told me was to apply lotion to the nipples and then to kind of gently pinch and pull them outwards. I have tried it, I haven't really found it to produce contractions but it does make my nipples feel tender. Maybe I am just doing it wrong.

BTW, Henci Goer has a whole section on induction in TWGTABB, if you have a copy of that. It goes over all the different techniques natural and medicated.

[ekblad9]

I thought nipple stimulation was a pretty laid back approach to contrax. I've never heard of it being dangerous. I mean, I've nursed through a bunch of pregnancies with no problems. That sounds odd to me. I've read alot about natural forms of induction and that's right up there, listed before things like castor oil, even.

When I had this baby my contrax stopped after I was complete. I mean, like for 3 hours, baby's head down low, NO contrax. So they had me use a breast pump. It seemed to work OK, I guess. I would think that would be a good way to get constant stimulation vs. doing it by hand.

[Kidzaplenty]

I have found, for me, that NS tends to lead to very strong b/h but not productive cx.

As for how it works, they come and go with direct stimulation. Meaning that the tightening occurs as long as and shortly after stimulation is present. But it wanes once stimulations ceases. Though it can cause reoccuring tighening for a short while (in waves like regular cx).

I think doctors don't like this method because it is "uncontroled" and they want "controled" methods.

But perhaps I have just never done it right.

I just use "manual tweaking" (which is not as bad as it sounds) and even just "rubbing" over my shirt. (Imagine someone "buffing" their nails by rubbing them on their shirt, something like that with the backs or tips of the nails, very lightly.)

I have heard pumping is great, but I have never tried it.

[huskermommy]

Well, I don't know if this "counts" but I assume it does since using a breast pump is one suggested way of nipple stimulation...

I'm still bfing ds and oh.my.god. the contractions I get during are no fun! They are pretty powerful sometimes. Sometimes they continue on for a little while but they usually fizzle out. I'm sure if I was constantly nursing, it would/could bring on full labor. I don't know about the intensity though.

I would tend to agree w/you... Pitocin is continued so the contractions continue... With nipple stimulation, you have the power to start/stop it. But maybe if you do it for a longer period of time?

[catnap70]

I think it is fairly common for Ina May to recommend it--I am thinking about her two books I have read and it seems like it is regularly mentioned. Her method is more of the natural, make-out kind with a DH or P, which would just also be kind of nice and relaxing. I wish I could remember her funny 70s language about it--I remember finding it amusing. I'd rather do that than use a pump if I had a choice.