What to Expect With Labor Induction

The birth of your baby may have to come after your labor is induced.

When labor is induced, it means that labor is jump-started with medicines. This begins the process of birthing your baby. Typically, labor is induced because the mother is past her due date or there is a concern for the health of the mother or baby.

Reasons to Induce

There are many reasons a doctor might recommend inducing labor. If you have high blood pressure, preeclampsia, a uterine infection, are a diabetic or have gestational diabetes your doctor might suggest labor induction. The most common reason of all is if you are more than two weeks past your due date. In this situation the baby could get too large and may not be able to receive enough nutrition from your body any longer.

Process of Induction

The first step of inducing labor is that medicine will be injected into your vagina. This helps to soften and ripen the cervix for contractions. Once your cervix is soft and ripe, you will get another medicine through an IV, which will be increased gradually until you are experiencing regular and strong contractions.

Possible Complications

While typically safe, it is important to note that inducing labor may cause contractions to be much stronger and the labor to be more difficult. In the event the medicines used to induce your labor do not work for you, you can also be at more increased risk of developing a uterine infection.

References

• California Pacific Medical Center: Labor Induction
• Family Doctor: Labor Induction
• Natural Birth and Baby Care: Inducing Labor