How Does Labor Induction Work?

Why Labor Is Induced

One in every five pregnancies requires labor induction. One of the main reasons for labor induction is that the baby has been in the uterus more than 42 weeks. An overdue baby increases the risk of pregnancy complications.

Softening the Cervix

The cervix is the entrance to the uterus. The most popular method for softening the cervix is to use a gel, which contains synthetic prostaglandin. Prostaglandin will help the cervix to dilate and thin out.
Using the hormonal gel may take up to a few hours. Alternatively, a device, such as a balloon catheter, can be placed inside the cervix to open it by mechanical expansion.

An amnihook can be used to break the bag of water if it is still intact. It is generally believed that breaking of the water bag will lead to labor contractions.

If there is still no contraction, a dose of pitocin will be given to start the labor contractions. Pitocin is a synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin, which the body produces to initiate labor contractions. Contractions induced by pitocin tend to be longer and more intense than normal labor contractions.

If Induction Doesn't Work

During the labor induction process, the baby will be monitored closely to detect any sign of distress. At the same time, the doctor will monitor the mother to avoid overstimulation. If delivery does not occur within 10 to 12 hours of starting labor induction, it maybe necessary to perform a cesarean delivery to ensure the health of both mother and baby.

Resources

• Labor Induction