Inducing Labor

Reviewed by Kimberly Sebeck, CLD, CCCE

Inducing labor is a common procedure and is often chosen by many women. The definition of it is when doctors use a certain method to bring on labor or to help a woman by medication or medical techniques. There are many different reasons why a women or doctor chooses this method, but it’s mainly done if the baby is more than 2 weeks late or past 42 weeks, if there’s an infection in the mother’s uterus, or if you have certain medical conditions like gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.  There are risks involved since inductions are done to get the body ready for birth when the body isn’t ready. In fact, it’s not common, but there have been many reports where inductions have failed, or even led to more interventions such as continual monitoring and bed confinement. It’s highly suggested that you speak with your health care provider to discuss the risks versus benefits involved with induction.

Elective Inductions

There is a thing as an elective induction.  It’s done for non medical reasons and you should know that doctors try to avoid inducing labor because of the risks involved.  One of the main reasons is that the due-date could be wrong or a women’s cervix might not be fully ready yet.

Methods of Inducing Labor

Below are some of the common ways you and your doctor can choose to induce labor.  Depending on your condition, one way might work better than the other. Some of the methods can be more painful than others, but some form of pain is necessary when giving birth.

• Stripping Membranes
  The doctor puts on gloves and inserts a finger into your vagina and through your cervix. The doctor then moves the finger back and forth to separate the thin membrane connecting the amniotic sac to the wall of your uterus. When the membranes are stripped, the body releases hormones called prostaglandins, which help prepare the cervix for delivery and may bring on contractions. This method works for some women, but not all.

• Amniotomy
  This method is also known as breaking the water and rupturing the amniotic sac. During a vaginal exam, he or she uses a little plastic hook to break the membranes. This usually brings on labor in a matter of hours.

• Giving the hormone Prostagladin to ripen the cervix
  A gel or vaginal insert of prostaglandin is inserted into the vagina or a tablet is given by mouth. This is typically done overnight in the hospital to make the cervix soft, thinned out, or dilated for delivery. Administered alone, prostaglandin may induce labor or may be used before giving oxytocin.

• Giving the hormone Oxytocin to stimulate contractions
  This hormone is given continuously through an IV, and is started in a small dose, then increased until labor is progressing well. After it’s administered, the fetus and uterus need to be watched very closely. Oxytocin is also frequently used to spur labor that’s going slowly or has stalled.