When making your decision, discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Do not be afraid to ask lots of questions, such as:. You might need to consider several other health concerns. For example, there is a higher risk of stillbirth or other problems if your baby is not born before 42 weeks, and an increased risk of infection if your waters break more than 24 hours before labour starts.
There are different ways to induce labour. Your doctor or midwife will decide the best one for you when they examine your cervix. You may need a combination of different strategies. You will need to provide written consent for the procedure. During a vaginal examination, the midwife or doctor makes circular movements around your cervix with their finger. This action should release a hormone called prostaglandins. You do not need to be admitted to hospital for this procedure and it is often done in the doctor's room.
This can be enough to get labour started, meaning you will not need any other methods. Risks: This is a simple and easy procedure; however, it does not always work. It can be a bit uncomfortable, but it does not hurt. A synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin is given to you via a drip in your arm to start your contractions. When the contractions start, the amount of oxytocin is adjusted so you keep on having regular contractions until the baby is born. This whole process can take several hours.
Risks: Oxytocin can make contractions stronger, more frequent and more painful than in natural labour. You are more likely to need pain relief and the baby will be continually monitored. You will not be able to move around much because of the drip in your arm and you will also have a fetal monitor around your abdomen to monitor your baby.
Sometimes the contractions can come too quickly, which can affect the baby's heart rate. This can be controlled by slowing down the drip or giving you another medicine.
Artificial rupture of membranes ARM is used when your waters do not break naturally. Your doctor or midwife inserts a small hook-like instrument through your vagina to make a hole in the membrane sac that is holding the amniotic fluid. This will increase the pressure of your baby's head on your cervix, which may be enough to get labour started.
Many women will also need oxytocin to start their contractions. Risks: ARM can be a bit uncomfortable but not painful. There is a small increased risk of a prolapsed umbilical cord, bleeding or infection.
A synthetic version of the hormone prostaglandins is inserted into your vagina to soften your cervix and prepare your body for labour. It can be in the form of a gel, which may be given in several doses usually every 6 to 8 hours , or a pessary and tape similar to a tampon , which slowly releases the hormone over 12 to 24 hours. You will need to lie down and stay in hospital after the prostaglandins is inserted. You may also then need ARM if your waters have not broken, or oxytocin to bring on the contractions.
Prostaglandins gel is often the preferred method of inducing labour since it is the closest to natural labour. Tell your midwife or doctor straight away if you start to experience painful, regular contractions 5 minutes apart for your first baby, or 10 minutes apart for subsequent babies, or if your waters break, because these are both signs that your labour is beginning. Time slows to a crawl, and if it weren't for your dignity, you would, too.
At some point in the sciatica-riddled final weeks, when you feel like a parade float and have to pee every half hour, you throw up your hands. Can you request to be induced? Because you feel like you've been pregnant forever. Louis Park, Minnesota. In an email interview, she explains that doctors follow strict guidelines, and for good reason.
While babies are considered full term after 37 weeks, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Maternal-Fetal Research Center recently took a closer look at babies born via elective induction. According to Schmitt, an induction is "elective" when there's no medical reason for it — if the mother is uncomfortable, for instance, or invested in a particular birthdate.
Your health care provider might recommend inducing labor for various reasons, primarily when there's concern for a mother's health or a baby's health. For example:. Nature typically prepares the cervix for delivery in the most efficient, comfortable way. However, if your health care provider is concerned about your health or your baby's health or your pregnancy continues two weeks past your due date, inducing labor might be the best option.
Why the concern after two weeks? When a pregnancy lasts longer than 42 weeks, amniotic fluid might begin to decrease and there's an increased risk of having a baby significantly larger than average fetal macrosomia. There's also an increased risk of C-section, fetal inhalation of fecal waste meconium aspiration and stillbirth.
Elective labor induction is the initiation of labor for convenience in a person with a term pregnancy who doesn't medically need the intervention.
For example, if you live far from the hospital or birthing center or you have a history of rapid deliveries, a scheduled induction might help you avoid an unattended delivery.
In such cases, your health care provider will confirm that your baby's gestational age is at least 39 weeks or older before induction to reduce the risk of health problems for your baby. Techniques such as exercising or having sex to induce labor aren't backed by scientific evidence. Also, avoid herbal supplements, which could harm your baby. Labor induction isn't for everyone. For example, it might not be an option if you have had a prior C-section with a classical incision or major uterine surgery, your placenta is blocking your cervix placenta previa , or your baby is lying buttocks first breech or sideways transverse lie in your uterus.
Inducing labor is a serious decision. Work with your health care provider to make the best choice for you and your baby. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.
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