Is your HPL near or even missed and you want to break your amniotic fluid? If you are pregnant, there are several reasons that make you want to break your amniotic fluid. Even if you are close to your due date and are ready to give birth, you should take extra precautions when it comes to breaking the amniotic fluid through lifestyle changes and medical methods. Be sure to always consult with a trusted obstetrician, midwife or medical professional before you resort to any method that promotes the rupture of the amniotic fluid. If you are in good health, read this article for lifestyle changes and medical procedures you can take to help encourage the rupture of the amniotic fluid.
Step
Method 1 of 11: Go to your midwife or obstetrician
Step 1. Ask if they suggest natural ways to break the amniotic fluid
It is very important to get professional approval if you want to try this method. Some natural methods can speed up labor, which can lead to complications if you don't consult your doctor beforehand.
- Ask your doctor to suggest a lifestyle or medical method that will best suit your pregnancy.
- Never try to break the amniotic fluid or induce labor if you are not yet 39 weeks pregnant.
Method 2 of 11: Take a walk
Step 1. Walking can encourage the baby to descend into the pelvis
This will put pressure on the pelvis so that the cervix will be ready for delivery and help make the membranes rupture. If you are already having contractions, walking can also speed up labour.
- Take a leisurely walk for no more than 30 minutes at a time to stimulate the baby to move. Remember, don't put too much pressure or force on yourself when you walk, even if you really want to start labor.
- Wear shoes that can support the feet from unnecessary pressure. If possible, try to walk on a flat surface.
Method 3 of 11: Do another exercise
Step 1. Take a deep breath, sit on an exercise ball, or do squats
If you want to exercise to encourage the rupture of the amniotic fluid, the cervix should be soft and ready to open on its own. In other words, the body must be ready for labor if this method is to work. When the cervix and body are ready, even light exercise can cause the water to break and you will start to contract.
- Try doing deep breathing exercises. Hold your breath and exhale slowly through your mouth, imagining your baby being pushed toward your pelvis. Repeat this exercise until the pelvic floor muscles feel relaxed.
- Sit on the exercise ball and bounce gently. When sitting, spread your legs and move your body up and down on the ball. This can make the pelvic floor muscles relax and contract.
- Supported squats can stretch the pelvic floor, which will help the baby move down (towards the pelvis). Press your back against the wall and place your feet shoulder width apart. Bend your knees and lower your body as far as you can. Exhale when lowering the body and inhale when lifting the body.
Method 4 of 11: Have sexual intercourse
Step 1. If you feel comfortable, having sex at 39-40 weeks pregnant can be useful
Sex will stimulate the hormone oxytocin, which can cause contractions. Orgasms can also encourage the uterus to contract when the body is ready to give birth. Try doing it in positions that allow for deep penetration, such as cowgirl (woman on top) or guy from behind. This can stimulate the cervix better, and the prostaglandins present in the sperm will induce labor.
Do not have sex when the amniotic fluid has broken because harmful bacteria can enter the birth canal
Method 5 of 11: Massage the nipples
Step 1. Use nipple stimulation to induce or speed labor
Wipe the nipple and areola (the black, red, or brown circle that surrounds the nipple) using your thumb and forefinger (this mimics a baby's sucking when feeding). Ask your husband to do it if this makes you more comfortable. This method (which will release the hormone oxytocin) can help break down the amniotic fluid which makes the uterus contract. Stimulate each nipple for about 15 minutes, for a total of about an hour each day.
To start labor, you may have to stimulate the nipples for a long time
Method 6 of 11: Eat foods that can induce labor
Step 1. Some foods can trigger labor, although there is little medical evidence
For example, spicy foods (such as chili peppers) can irritate the intestines, which can stimulate contractions, although they can also cause heartburn and diarrhea. Avoid this method if your stomach is very sensitive. Some foods that can help break down amniotic fluid include:
- Eggplant
- Balsamic vinegar
- Licorice (licorice)
- Basil
- Oregano
Method 7 of 11: Consume castor oil
Step 1. Castor oil will stimulate the intestines, which can irritate the uterus
This will trigger contractions and can break the amniotic fluid. If you want to try it, consult a doctor to ask the dose. Castor oil can cause diarrhea and stomach upset. If you are prone to stomach problems, your doctor may not recommend this method.
- Drink castor oil in the morning to prevent complications. By drinking it in the morning, you can monitor labor symptoms, can drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated, and prevent sleep deprivation from having to urinate frequently at night.
- Castor oil can cause dehydration. When using this method, keep your body hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Method 8 of 11: Try taking red raspberry leaf tea with your doctor's approval
Step 1. This herbal tea can stimulate contractions
Amniotic fluid can break when you contract. Make a tea from raspberry leaves and drink it towards the end of pregnancy. Apart from promoting labor, some evidence suggests that this tea can help strengthen the uterus and increase milk production. This tea can even help reduce pain during labor.
Since this tea can cause contractions, do not drink it during the first trimester of pregnancy
Method 9 of 11: Consult a medical professional to break the amniotic fluid
Step 1. The doctor or midwife can medically break the amniotic fluid through certain procedures
If you are unable to break the amniotic fluid on your own, you may want to consult your doctor or midwife for medically breaking the amniotic fluid. This method can be risky for both your baby and yourself. Medical professionals will only perform this procedure in the following cases:
- Gestational age has passed 2 weeks from the due date
- You have a uterine infection
- Baby's growth has stopped as expected
- Too little amniotic fluid (also called oligohydramnios)
- You have placental abruption, which is the separation of the placenta from the inner wall of the uterus
- You have diabetes or high blood pressure
Method 10 of 11: Ask your doctor about peeling or scraping the membrane
Step 1. Your doctor may recommend this method if your pregnancy is approaching or past your due date
This simple procedure can be done in a doctor's clinic, by separating the amniotic sac from the uterine wall using your fingers. This procedure can also massage or stretch the cervix to stimulate the rupture of the amniotic fluid.
- The peeling of the membrane may be uncomfortable and may result in prolonged cramping. This procedure is also not as effective as other induction methods.
- Never do it yourself at home. Membrane peeling should only be performed by a trained physician, who uses sterile technique and equipment.
Method 11 of 11: Have an amniotomy (breakdown of the amniotic fluid)
Step 1. The procedure for breaking the amniotic sac is performed by a doctor using special equipment
If the gestational age is past due, the cervix has dilated and thinned, or labor has slowed when the baby has descended from the pelvis, your midwife or doctor may perform this procedure. This action will break the amniotic fluid and stimulate labor.
- Let the doctor examine you and your baby after the amniotomy to make sure you are not experiencing any problems.
- This procedure carries the risk of infection, uterine rupture (tears in the uterus), and increases the chances of a cesarean delivery.
