Medical induction of labor is when the birth process is started before it begins on its own. Medicine and procedures may be needed.
Labor may need to be started when it is not healthy for the baby to stay in the womb. Babies can get too large for a safe vaginal birth. This can make it hard for them to get enough oxygen. Labor may be started for a pregnancy:
Labor may also need to be started when there are health problems for the mother or baby, such as:
Some women may choose to have labor started without a medical need.
Problems that may happen because of induction are:
The doctor will review problems that may happen.
Heavy meals should not be eaten when possible. Labor can make it hard for food to pass from the stomach. This can cause a problem if a c-section is needed. It is okay to have clear fluids.
The cervix will need to soften, thin, and open before the baby can pass through. Medicine will help to make this happen. The medicine may be a:
It can take a few days to ripen.
The care team may also:
Changes in the Cervix During PregnancyCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
A medicine called oxytocin can start contractions. It may be changed to make the contractions stronger or weaker as labor starts.
The labor and birth will then be the same as when labor begins on its own.
The induction will often lead to a delivery. Other care may be needed if labor did not start.
It can be hours or days until the baby is delivered. It may take 2 to 3 days if the cervix is not ripe.
Labor causes severe pain. Talk to the doctor about ways to manage the pain.
The usual length of stay is 1 to 3 days. Women who have problems may need to stay longer.
Call your doctor if your healing is not going as you expect or you have:
If you think you are having an emergency, call for medical help right away.
American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org
Women's Health—US Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.womenshealth.gov
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins -- Obstetrics. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 107: Induction of labor. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Aug;114(2 Pt 1):386-97, reaffirmed 2016.
Labor Induction. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/labor-induction. Updated August 29, 2019. Accessed October 22, 2019.
Leduc D, Biringer A, et al. Induction of labour. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2013 Sep;35(9):840-860.
Last reviewed September 2019 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Elliot M. Levine, MD, FACOG
Last Updated: 4/29/2020