Hello everyone,

My last entry was about covering the options you have regarding epidurals and whether or not it’s a good choice for you, if you haven’t had the chance to read it and or submit a comment, please feel free.  Today, I am going to write about inducing labor.

Induction of labor or artificially starting the process.

Why would you induce labor ?  Usually for medical reasons of some sort, either with mom or with the baby and or the placenta.

Mom may have medical issues, problems with blood pressure being too high, or if she has any underlying medical disorders, such as heart problems or lung problems.

There also may be baby growth issues, the baby may be growing ahead of schedule and getting to be too big or on the other side of the coin, maybe not growing sufficiently because of placenta issues not functioning 100 %.

The most common reason other than those is post dates, that being the baby is 1 week or more overdue.

There are 2 types of induction.  Which one is used depends on your dilation and cervical effacement, ( or thinning ).  If your cervix is very little dilated and not soft, and if your having no or irregular contractions, the doctor’s will probably try a cervical ripening agent, prostoglandin, to help get the cervix ready.  It’s administered in the form of a vaginal suppository placed behind your cervix during an exam.

If your cervix is more dilated and softened, the doctors will progress right to Intravenous Oxytocin called Pitocin to help.  The Pitocin works with the contraction you are already having to make them closer and stronger and will help make your labor progress.  It can also be used to help a labor that has been going but has slowed, to get it going again.

Thats pretty much it with inductions and how they work and why you may need one.  As always I would like to encourage you to submit your experiences with our other readers and thank you for visiting. 

God bless,

Meredith – RNC