Thread: Does this trigger birth? What are your ideas?

What is the one chemical (or family of chemicals) that would cause a pregnant mother's body to decide to "jettison its cargo"? The easiest and simplest idea that came to my mind was digestive juices. Certainly, one of the worst things that could happen is that the baby begins to digest the uterus, the placenta and/or itself, and enough digestive juices would also indicate that the baby is matured enough to feed (ie, be born).

Maybe not the digestive system's main digestive juices (ie, stomach acid, etc), but maybe something as simple as the digestive chemicals (amylase/ptyalin and lipase) in the baby's saliva. Babies in the womb seem to float around with their mouths open, and I understand that babies even "breath" the amniotic fluid in and out.

I also understand that the uterus "replaces" the amniotic fluid every four hours (actually a continuous process), so the mother's body may begin the birth process when it starts processing amniotic fluids containing a high enough concentration of digestive chemicals.

What are some other ideas (your pet ideas) about what might trigger birth?

pressure on the cervix from the baby stimulates the release of oxytocin and then the uterus starts contracting, then the baby pops right on out of there.

then the baby pops right on out of there.

If only.

Originally Posted by adelady

then the baby pops right on out of there.

If only.

i know, i didn't feel like detailing the rest

Someone sitting on the mothers belly would induce a birth if she was "ready" to do so.

Originally Posted by mat5592

pressure on the cervix from the baby stimulates the release of oxytocin and then the uterus starts contracting, then the baby pops right on out of there.

Pops? lol you're funny.

I'm curious, why do you want to know how to induce a delivery?

I know of some old wive's remedies but I am hesitant to share. A woman trying to induce labor without proper medical attention or against medical advice could be fatal for the mother and the baby.

I'm not sure about delivery, but I've heard that whips can induce labor.

I had a quick look on the internet. There are a heap of things that are "supposed" to induce labor - ranging from long walks, castor oil, evening primrose oil, and even having sex. But the science behind those is conspicuous by its absence. In a hospital ward, it is done using hormones - prostaglandins, or a synthetic form of oxytocin.