St. Albert & Sturgeon Primary Care Network
Induction
Waiting for the birth of a baby can be both an exciting and anxious time. Most women give birth within 2 weeks before or after their due date. For most women labour will begin naturally, but for some it may be medically necessary to help start labour.
Why might my healthcare provider induce the delivery of my baby?
The most common reason for labour induction is that the pregnancy has gone two weeks or more past the due date. The baby may get too big if you carry it this far past your due date. It may not be able to get enough food from inside your body. Your healthcare provider might also recommend labour induction if:
- Your water breaks before you go into labour.
- You have high blood pressure.
- You have a serious infection.
- You have diabetes.
Labour induction will only be recommended to protect you or your baby.
How will labour be induced?
There are several ways to induce labour. Toward the end of your pregnancy, the cervix (the opening to the uterus, or womb) will become soft and it may even open up a little. Your doctor will check to see if your cervix is getting soft and opening up. If your cervix is not softening and opening, your healthcare provider may:
- Breaking the bag of waters that surround the baby. This is done during a vaginal examination.
- Putting a small tube (catheter) into the cervix to soften it and cause contractions to begin.
- Putting a medicated gel or a suppository containing the hormone prostaglandin into the vagina or cervix. This will help soften the cervix and may start contractions. This can also be done to soften the cervix before using the medication oxytocin. Your doctor will watch you closely. When you're ready, your doctor will start giving you a medicine called oxytocin. Oxytocin will start your contractions and help them to get strong and regular.
Will labour start straight away?
Sometimes it takes two or three 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. Don't eat very much before you come to the hospital. Remember that the medicines for labour induction can give you very strong contractions and might upset your stomach. Tell your healthcare provider if you need help with the pain. In most cases, labour induction goes well and you can deliver your baby vaginally.
Are there risks involved in labour induction?
Although problems seldom occur with labour induction, there can be some complications:
- Change in fetal heart rate
- Increased risk of infection to woman and baby
- The umbilical cord comes out before the baby or is compressed
- Uterine rupture
Both you and your baby will be watched closely. Your baby's heartbeat will be checked regularly and your contractions will be watched to be sure that they are not coming too close together or lasting too long. A machine called a fetal monitor may be used to check the baby's heartbeat and your contractions during labour.