Induction of labour is nothing but stimulating labour artificially. Find about various medical reasons for induction of labour and different methods used for labour induction during pregnancy. The health care provider decides to augment labour if there is any kind of medical problem that could harm you or your baby or if your pregnancy has crossed 42 weeks. There are situations when inducing labour is the best way to keep mother and the child healthy. Read on to know about the circumstances under which labour is induced and various methods used for inducing the labour during
pregnancy.
Medical Reasons for Induction
Your doctor may prefer to induce your labour if you are coping with any of the following medical conditions:
- Pregnancy over 42 weeks
- Size of the baby
- Diabetes
- Placenta dysfunction
- Epilepsy
- Heart conditions
- Bleeding in late pregnancy
- High blood pressure
- Pre-eclampsia
- Cholestasis of pregnancy
- Breaking of water with no contractions for a considerable period of time
However, it is quite normal that pregnancy lasts longer than 42 weeks. In fact, for some mothers long pregnancies are safer and healthier than induced labour.
How is Labour Induced?
One or more of the following methods are being used for inducing labour
Striping the Membranes
This is separating the amniotic sac from the wall of the uterus. The amniotic sac is a bag inside the uterus that holds your baby in amniotic fluid. The doctor puts in gloved finger through the cervix and takes the sac apart from the uterus.
Making the Cervix Matured
The doctor will give you medicine that will soften and thin the cervix. It depends on the doctor whether he gives you a pill that you will take in mouth or gel or suppository that is placed in the vagina against the cervix.
A Medicine to Start Contraction
The medicine that is provided has the same function that the hormone in the body offers to start contractions. Most often the medicine is induced through IV and it helps give strong contractions.
Breaking the Water
The amniotic sac that holds your baby is ruptured with the help of a small hook that looks like a knitting needle. Usually this process is painless, but you will feel a warm flow of fluid.
Advantages of Induced labour
- Induction can be life saving in some serious medical conditions
- You and your doctor can schedule your labour
Disadvantages of Induced Labour
- Continual foetal monitoring
- Restricted movement
- More request for pain relief
- More intense labour
- More than average blood loss at childbirth
- Huge increase in chances of caesarean
- Time pressures
- Strong uterus contractions may lead to foetus distress
- May not be allowed to use bath or shower
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- May cause bleeding and infection
- Premature childbirth
- Low birth weight in babies
Most often induction is given taking into consideration the schedule of the caregiver instead of considering the health of the child and the mother.
Tips to Avoid Labour Induction
- Normally, pregnancy lasts from 38 – 42 weeks. If you find that 42 weeks are completed, you can get your check-up done and wait for few more days.
- Many researchers say that it is the baby that starts labour. It will automatically initiate when it is full grown and ready to face the life outside the womb. He releases a substance that starts labour. So, the best way is to wait for the baby to start labour on its own.
- When selecting your doctor, make sure you choose the one who would induce labour only on medical reasons.
- Stay active throughout your pregnancy period and exercise at least 30 minutes daily at a moderate pace.
- Pay attention to nutrition and drink plenty of water throughout.
- Even if your water breaks, ask your doctor to allow you some time to go into the labour on your own.
- If your pregnancy has reached 42 weeks, discuss and opt for natural and harmless induced labour options.
It is always good to use natural ways to induce labour so that you and your newborn are safe and away from any side effect.
Which are the different medical treatments used for induction of labour? What are the risks associated with labour induction? How to prevent undergoing an induced labour? Discuss here. 
