Prostaglandins can be given in the form of a gel or tablet inserted vaginally. You may require 2 or 3 doses of prostaglandin hours apart. A catheter small silicone tube may be inserted into your cervix. The catheter will put pressure on the cervix encouraging it to soften and shorten. Your membranes waters may be artificially ruptured. This procedure requires a vaginal examination to insert a small instrument to break the membranes.
This will help stimulate contractions. It can only be performed if your cervix is open. Syntocinon a drug which causes the uterus to contract is administered through a drip and encourages the uterus to contract.
Once contractions begin the drip is adjusted so that contractions occur regularly until your baby is born. This method can only be used once your waters have broken. Benefits Induction provides a timely birth to reduce the risk of stillbirth. You will be able to plan for the event — arrange childcare, transport and other essentials.
Disadvantages You will be required to birth in hospital. Your baby will require continuous monitoring during the labour. There is a risk of over-stimulation of your uterus, which may affect your baby.
It is possible that the induction will not work. This may lead to the need for a caesarean. Induced labours are associated with a higher rate of medical intervention, such as epidurals.
Await spontaneous labour If your pregnancy has been healthy but prolonged and you do not wish to have your labour induced, it is recommended that you have increased antenatal monitoring. This is usually undertaken twice weekly. This will include measuring the amount of fluid around your baby. Benefits Your labour will start spontaneously and naturally. You will have no side effects related to labor inducing drugs.
You may continue with your birth plan as long as you remain well and in consultation with your midwife and doctor. Disadvantages Increased risk of stillbirth.
Increased risk of meconium aspiration this is a serious condition in which a newborn breathes a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into the lungs.
Increased risk of caesarean section and perinatal complications to include asphyxia lack of oxygen , fractured bones, nerve damage or infection. Are there any alternative options I could try? Breast and nipple stimulation Breast and nipple stimulation is known to result in the production of the hormone oxytocin which causes the uterus to contract.
Once labour starts, it should proceed normally, but it can sometimes take 24 to 48 hours to get you into labour. Induced labour is usually more painful than labour that starts on its own, and you may want to ask for an epidural. Your pain relief options during labour are not restricted by being induced. You should have access to all the pain relief options usually available in the maternity unit. If you are induced you'll be more likely to have an assisted delivery, where forceps or ventouse suction are used to help the baby out.
Your obstetrician and midwife will assess your condition and your baby's wellbeing, and you may be offered another induction or a caesarean section. You may have heard that certain things can trigger labour, such as herbal supplements and having sex, but there's no evidence that these work.
Other methods that are not supported by scientific evidence include acupuncture , homeopathy , hot baths, castor oil and enemas. Having sex will not cause harm, but you should avoid having sex if your waters have broken as there's an increased risk of infection. For more information on induction, you can read the NICE information for the public on induction of labour.
You can find pregnancy and baby apps and tools in the NHS apps library. Page last reviewed: 12 November Next review due: 12 November Inducing labour. It's your choice whether to have your labour induced or not. Why you might be induced if you're overdue if your waters have broken if you or your baby have a health problem If you're overdue Induction will be offered if you do not go into labour naturally by 42 weeks, as there will be a higher risk of stillbirth or problems for the baby.
If your waters break early If your waters break more than 24 hours before labour starts, there's an increased risk of infection to you and your baby. If you have a health condition or your baby is not thriving You may be offered an induction if you have a condition that means it'll be safer to have your baby sooner, such as diabetes , high blood pressure or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Membrane sweep Before inducing labour, you'll be offered a membrane sweep, also known as a cervical sweep, to bring on labour.
How labour is induced If you're being induced, you'll go into the hospital maternity unit. You should contact your midwife or obstetrician if: your contractions begin you have not had any contractions after 6 hours If you've had no contractions after 6 hours, you may be offered another tablet or gel. If we combine this information with your PHI, we will treat all of that information as PHI, and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices.
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