Induced Labor: Answering Frequently Asked Questions

When you see a woman going into labor in movies, it usually takes her by surprise, often when her water breaks. While many women go into labor on their own, induced labor may be necessary in some cases.

“Induced labor is exactly what it sounds like,” says Collins Birthing Center director Tiffany Washington, RN, BSN. “It involves using medication or other methods to cause labor to begin. We may recommend inducing labor for many reasons, usually to protect the health of the mother and child.”

If you're expecting a new addition to your family and your OBGYN has suggested inducing labor, you might have a lot of questions and concerns. These frequently asked questions and answers can help ease your mind and prepare you for the process.

Q: Why Would Induced Labor Be Recommended?

A: Mothers who have had a healthy pregnancy typically have the option to go into labor spontaneously. However, induced labor may be needed when the mother or the baby — or both — are at risk.

In most cases, induced labor is not recommended before 39 weeks of pregnancy, when a fetus is considered fully developed, but there are exceptions when the benefit of delivering the baby early outweighs the risk. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, reasons for labor induction include:

• A problem with the placenta
• Decreased or leaking amniotic fluid
• Health problems for the baby, including poor growth
• Health problems for the mother, including heart, lung or kidney issues, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, eclampsia or chronic high blood pressure
• Prelabor rupture of membranes, when the mother’s water breaks before labor begins
• Uterine infections

Induced labor may also be recommended if a pregnancy is at 41 or 42 weeks gestation, which is past the 40-week “due date.” In that case, getting labor started can help lower the risk of complications, such as a problem with the placenta or a baby that’s difficult to deliver vaginally due to large size.

Of course, this is not an all-inclusive list of reasons why an OBGYN might suggest inducing labor. Induced labor may be recommended, for example, if the mother lives far from a hospital and is near or past her due date.

Read More: Pregnancy Complications All Black Women Should Know About

Q: Are There Times That Induced Labor Is Not Recommended?

A: Induced labor is a way to start the labor process for a mother to deliver vaginally. In some cases, though, vaginal delivery may not be possible or safe due to certain health conditions or situations, including:

• Active genital herpes infection
• Breech or transverse positioning of the baby
• Placenta previa, where the placenta covers the opening of the uterus
• Prolapsed umbilical cord

If you experience any of these situations, you may need a C-section to protect your health and your baby’s health during the delivery process. Because of that, induced labor is not recommended. 

Read More: You Got This, Mom: 4 Tips for C-Section Recovery

Q: What Happens During Induced Labor?

A: If your OBGYN recommends inducing labor, it can be done in several different ways, depending on the readiness of your cervix. 

What does that mean?

During the weeks prior to giving birth, the cervix dilates (opens up) and effaces (thins out). Your provider will check your cervix before inducing labor to help determine what type of induction you need.

If the cervix hasn’t ripened — meaning it’s still hardened and closed — the first step of labor induction will be preparing the cervix. That can be done by:

• Inserting a balloon catheter. Your provider will place a small balloon-tipped tube up against the cervix, then fill the balloon with saline to expand it, which puts pressure on the cervix. This helps to dilate and efface the cervix.
• Stripping the membranes. Using a gloved finger, your provider will lightly touch the membrane connecting the amniotic sac to the uterus, which releases hormones called prostaglandins. These hormones can stimulate contractions.
• Taking prostaglandins. You can also take prostaglandins as a suppository inserted into the vagina or in a pill taken by mouth. 

Once the cervix is ripe, the next step is to stimulate and increase the intensity of uterine contractions. These contractions move the baby down and into the birth canal, preparing for delivery. 

To stimulate contractions, your provider may give you synthetic oxytocin through an IV or break the amniotic sac in a painless procedure called an amniotomy. In some cases, the two may be used together to intensify contractions. 

After contractions begin, every labor is different — it may take anywhere from minutes to many hours to progress to active labor.  

Q: Are There Any Risks of Induced Labor?

A: While inducing labor is typically quite safe, it can sometimes lead to complications, including:

• Excessive bleeding after the baby is born
• Low fetal heart rate during labor
• Risk of infection in the mother and the baby
• Uterine rupture

Occasionally, labor induction is not successful. When this happens, methods used to promote labor don’t lead to a vaginal delivery within 24 hours. In that case, a C-section is usually needed to deliver the baby. 

Q: What Else Should I Know About Induced Labor?

A: Once your labor begins, the induction part of the process is complete. Your labor and delivery will proceed as they would have if you hadn’t been induced.

Medications used to stimulate labor contractions can sometimes also intensify the pain caused by the contractions. Before your induction, talk with your OBGYN about your options for managing pain during labor, such as an epidural, and when and how that pain relief will be offered.

Your provider can also talk you through other aspects of labor induction and what to expect. Don’t hesitate to speak up about any questions you have — we want you to be comfortable with the process.

Expecting a new addition to the family? Learn more about women’s health at Beaufort Memorial or request an appointment online.