Know About Induced Labour

If your consultant is telling you you're having an induced labour, there will be a reason.

You may feel anxious, worried, excited - after all, your baby will soon be here!

Let's have a look first at the reasons why you might be induced, and then how it may be done. After all, when you know the facts about something, it doesn't seem so scary :-)

Reasons for an induced labour

• You may have diabetes or gestational diabetes.
• You may have previously had a stillborn baby.
• You may have pre eclampsia or some other condition that compromises yours or your baby's health.
• If your waters have broken but you still don't have contractions. Once your waters have broken there is a chance of infection. The chance of infection gets higher as times goes on. Normally once your waters are broken, you will give birth within 48 hours, but some women just don't, these are the ones that may need induced labour.
• You may be past your due date. If you are 10 to 14 days past your due date, your consultant may decide that induction of labour is needed (and you will probably be grinning from ear to ear! at last!)
• You may have a very high birth weight baby that is still growing! Your consultant may decide to induce you so that you can still deliver vaginally.
• You may have had a baby that died in your uterus before birth.

How you will have your labour induced

• Membrane sweep. During an internal examination, your midwife or consultant will sweep their finger over your cervix. This can separate the membranes surrounding the baby from your cervix. This can be effective in stimulating labour.

• Your midwife may break your waters ( official term is artificial rupture of membranes) She will do this with a surgical instrument that slightly resembles a crochet hook.

• Your consultant may decide to try and 'ripen' the neck of your cervix by applying prostaglandin in pessary or gel form. This can help to stimulate labour.

• You may be given a drip with Syntocinon, a synthetic oxytocin. This will help to start contractions, once they have started the amount of oxytocin like substance can be altered, allowing the consultant to control the rate of dilation of the cervix.

Once labour is induced, it is reported to be more painful than being in natural labour. You may be offered pain relief such as Epidural to help you manage the amount of pain that you will experience.

The risks of having an induced labour

• Your induced labour may not work first time round. In which case it may have to be done again, or several times.
• If you have your waters broken and contractions still don't start, there is then the risk of infection.
• You may need medical intervention after your labour is induced. Forceps, ventouse or even caesarean may be needed.
• If Syntocinon is used you may experience very strong contractions, this can cause stress to your baby so you will be constantly monitored in hospital. Syntocinon can also cause over-stimulation to your uterus, this can disrupt the oxygen supply to your baby. There is also a very slight chance that your uterus could tear.

These are just the basic facts of course, and should you have any concerns they should be taken up with your midwife or consultant. Talk to them, let them know how you feel, and if you are worried. Get them to answer any questions that you may have, this will help to put your mind at rest and get you ready for the birth of your baby.

If you're just overdue and there are no health problems with you or your baby, you may want to try and start labour yourself. Have a look at some natural ways to induce labour

Return from induced labour to childbirth page or back to New baby and beyond homepage