What is Labour Induction?
Labour induction is when your healthcare team uses medicines or other techniques to kickstart labour instead of waiting for your body to do it on its own. Your doctor might suggest it if you’re 1 to 2 weeks past your due date (around 41 to 42 weeks) or if there’s a medical need, like issues with your baby’s growth or your health.The goal is to get your cervix ready to open (dilate) and start contractions so your baby can make their entrance. In some cases, labour might have started but needs a little push; this is called augmentation.
Why Might You Need Labour Induction?
There are a few reasons your doctor might suggest induction of labour. Take a look at the main ones:- Overdue pregnancy: If you’re past 41 to 42 weeks, induction helps reduce risks to your baby because the placenta might not work as well after this point.
- Water breaking without contractions: Sometimes your water breaks but labour doesn’t start on its own. Induction can lower the risk of infection in this case.
- Medical conditions: If you have high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes, delivering early might be safer for you and your baby.
- Baby’s health concerns: Induction might be necessary if your baby isn’t growing properly or there’s not enough amniotic fluid.
- Infections: Conditions like chorioamnionitis (an infection in the amniotic sac) may require immediate delivery with induction.
- Heart disease: If you have heart disease, induction can help manage your pregnancy safely.
How is Labour Induced?
Induction involves different methods depending on your body’s readiness and your baby’s health. Your doctor will check your cervix using something called a Bishop score to see how soft and open it is.This is how they might induce labour:
- Membrane sweep: Your doctor gently sweeps their finger around your cervix to stimulate hormones that might start labour. This is often the first step and can be done after 39 weeks. It’s not painful, but it might feel uncomfortable with some cramping or light bleeding afterwards.
- Cervical ripening with medicines: If your cervix isn’t ready, your doctor might give you medicines like prostaglandins that can soften and open it. These mimic your body’s natural hormones and might cause side effects like nausea or strong contractions.
- Balloon catheter: A small tube with a balloon is placed in your cervix and filled with water to gently open it. This method might be used if medicines aren’t suitable.
- Osmotic dilators: Thin rods (sometimes called cervical rods) are placed in your cervix to absorb fluid and soften it over 12 to 24 hours.
- Breaking your waters (amniotomy): If your cervix is partially open, your doctor might use a small hook to break the amniotic sac. It’s painless but can feel odd.
- Oxytocin (pitocin): This synthetic hormone is given through an IV to start or strengthen contractions. It works quickly but requires close monitoring to avoid overactive contractions.
What to Expect During Induced Labour
Induction of labour can feel different from natural labour, so it helps to know what to expect:- Close monitoring: Your baby’s heart rate and your contractions will be closely monitored with a machine strapped to your belly. This might limit your movement compared to natural labour.
- Stronger contractions: Induced contractions can feel more intense or come on faster than natural ones. This happens because the medicine accelerates labour rather than letting it build up gradually.
- Timeframe varies: Induction can last from a few hours to a couple of days. Labour may start quickly if your cervix is already soft, but it could take 24 to 36 hours if it isn’t.
- Pain management: Stronger contractions during induced labour can make it feel more painful. Talk to your doctor about pain relief options to help you cope.
- Possible C-section: Your doctor might suggest a caesarean section if induction doesn’t lead to active labour after 24 hours or more (called a failed induction).
What Not to Expect During Induced Labour
There are a lot of myths about induction that can make it seem scarier than it really is.Let’s clear those up:
- Instant labour: Don’t expect labour to start right away. It can take hours or even days, depending on your body and the methods used.
- Always painful: Induction can bring stronger contractions, but it isn’t automatically more painful than natural labour. Everyone experiences pain differently, and you’ll have ways to manage it.
- Guaranteed success: Sometimes induction doesn’t work, and a C-section becomes necessary. But this is not a failure; it is simply a safe alternative for delivering your baby.
- Morning vs evening advantage: There’s no real advantage to starting induction in the morning or evening. The timing often depends on hospital schedules.
- Natural methods can start labour: Eating spicy food, drinking castor oil, or even sipping pineapple or cinnamon tea won’t reliably start labour. These are just old myths with no solid evidence to back them up.
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FAQs on What to Expect and Not While Labour is Induced in Pregnancy
- How long does induction take for first-time moms?
Induction can take anywhere from 24 to 36 hours for first-time moms, depending on how ready your cervix is. - Can I go home during induction?
Yes, you might be able to go home if you’re using a balloon catheter or certain slow-release medicines.