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What is labour induction?

Sometimes, if labour hasn’t started on its own, healthcare providers use medicines to help a person’s labour start so they can deliver the baby vaginally. This is called “labour induction.”

Why would my healthcare provider recommend labour induction?

The most common reason for labour induction is that the pregnancy has gone 2 weeks or more past the due date. Your healthcare provider might also recommend labour induction if:

• Your water breaks but you aren’t having any contractions.
• You have high blood pressure.
• You have an infection in your uterus.
• You have diabetes.
• There isn’t enough amniotic fluid around the baby.
• Your baby isn’t growing the way they should

Path to improved health

There are several ways to induce labour. Toward the end of pregnancy, the cervix (the opening to the uterus, or womb) gets soft. It may even open a little. Your healthcare provider will check to see if your cervix is getting soft and opening up. If it isn’t, your healthcare provider may put a medicine in your vagina near the cervix to help the process along.

Your healthcare provider may also a crochet-like hook to “break your water.  This is a common phrase that means to rupture the water-like amniotic sac that surrounds the baby. Or your healthcare provider may use a finger to separate your cervix from the membranes (tissues) around your baby’s head. This often makes labour start.

After doing this, your healthcare provider will watch you closely. When you’re ready, your healthcare provider will start giving you a medicine called oxytocin. Oxytocin will start your contractions and help them to get strong and regular.

What can I expect during labour induction?

The time it takes for the labor induction to work varies. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 days to induce labour, but it usually takes less time. It takes more time if you’re being induced really early or if it’s your first baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you need help with the pain from contractions. In most cases, labour induction goes well, and you can deliver your baby vaginally.

Things to condsider

Sometimes labour induction just doesn’t work. If your labour won’t start with medicine, you might need to have a caesarean section (also called a C-section). The medicine also might make your contractions too strong. If this happens, your healthcare provider might stop the medicine and wait for a while or do a caesarean section. If your labour is induced because of medical problems, there might be other risks specific to your condition.