Labor induction or inducing labor is a method where your midwife or your doctor uses several procedures that help you go into labor. It is best if contractions occur on their own but, it is an exception in some cases. Usually, your midwife or doctor may decide to induce your labor depending on your and baby’s health condition or if you’re two weeks or more from your due date, talk to the doctor if you should be induced for the labor or not.
There are multiple reasons for labor induction. Some of these reasons are listed below:
- When the due date of delivery has reached, usually when the woman is pregnant in the 41st and 42nd weeks
- Any history of stillbirth
- Uterine infections
- An increased heart rate of the baby
- If there are complications such as hypertension (high blood pressure), preeclampsia, or diabetes in a pregnant woman. Such complexities, especially during the pregnancy phase, could be a danger to the baby’s health.
Methods of Induction
There are three main methods of induction
1) Vaginal prostaglandins
2) Amniotomy
3) Membrane sweep
Risks
Labor induction has a lot of risks that include:
- Failed induction
- Low heart rate
- Infection
- Uterine rupture
- Bleeding after delivery
Labor induction isn’t suitable for everyone. Labor induction is not an option if:
- You had a previous C-section with a conventional incision or major uterine procedure.
- Your baby is lying buttocks first or sideways
- You have an active genital herpes infection.
- The umbilical cord slips into your vagina before delivery.
- The placenta is blocking your cervix.
Natural ways to induce labor
- Exercise
- Nipple stimulation
- Acupuncture
- Acupressure
- Castor oil
- Eating dates
- Sex
- Long walks
- Spicy foods
Consult the doctor or the midwife before taking some form of decision and it is better to wait until the labor is on its own rather than the triggered one, since there could be a lot of complications.
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