Induction Of Labour

Induction of labour is where labour is started artificially. You may need to be induced if you are beyond 41 weeks pregnant, if doctors are concerned about your baby’s growth, if you have a medical condition that means an early delivery would be preferable, if you develop pre-eclampsia, or if you have diabetes. It's even been known for doctors to insist on induction of labour in order to avoid babies arriving over holiday weekends!

Before birth is induced:
First of all your midwife or the obstetrician will check that your baby is head down in your womb and has engaged low in your pelvis. S/he will also ascertain if your cervix is ripe. If everything is right, you will be asked to return to the hospital at a certain time to be induced.

When you come in your baby’s heartbeat will be monitored for about half an hour to check that he or she is not in distress. You will then be induced by one of the following methods:

Prostaglandin: This substance is found naturally in your womb lining and one of its functions is to stimulate uterine contractions so that labour can begin. If your cervix is firmly closed your midwife may put a gel tablet containing synthetic prostaglandin into your vagina which helps to ripen your cervix.

Artificial Membrane Rupture: If your cervix is ripe your doctor or midwife will use a thin plastic hook to brush against the membranes and break them.

Syntocinon: This is a synthetic substance fed into your arm via a drip to increase the strength and regularity of your contractions. This method is often combined with artificial rupture of your membrane.

Usually, once one of these methods has been used, contractions will start to be felt before long. An induced labour often progresses more quickly than it might have done, so you need to be prepared with your breathing techniques so that you can cope with the contractions as they move up a gear. The great thing is that usually induced labour is relatively shorter than natural labour...so soon you will be through the transition stage and your baby will arrive.

If you are planning a natural childbirth you may not want your labour to be induced, but for everyone there comes a time when you may be put under some pressure by your ObGyn to consider it very carefully, usually for the sake of the baby. Taking as much advice as possible from the best sources and always putting the health of your baby first is probably the best advice we can give you here!