What happens if you get induced

Reaffirmed Wing DA. Cervical ripening and induction of labor in women with a prior cesarean delivery. Meconium aspiration syndrome. Merck Manual Professional Version. Techniques for ripening the unfavorable cervix prior to induction. Labor, delivery and postpartum care FAQ Labor induction. Gabbe SG, et al. Abnormal labor and induction of labor.

In: Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. Philadelphia, Pa. Cunningham FG, et al. Induction and augmentation of labor. In: Williams Obstetrics. New York, N. Bush M, et al. These days practitioners aim to carry all pregnancies to term, or until 39 weeks — which means labor should not be induced electively before then.

But situations do sometimes arise when nature needs a little nudge. Keep in mind that ACOG now recommends that practitioners try to minimize interventions during labor in low-risk pregnancies where Mom is progressing normally and baby is doing well with the goal of reducing inductions and C-sections.

ACOG suggests that certain procedures that may have happened sooner or more often in the past be delayed or avoided altogether if possible, unless they become necessary. While in the majority of cases labor induction goes smoothly, complications sometimes arise.

They include:. However know that throughout the process your baby will be continuously monitored via electronic fetal monitoring , which will help your practitioner to assess how he or she is dealing with the stress of induced labor and take steps to protect both of you. For low-risk pregnancies where labor is progressing normally and not being induced, ACOG suggests that intermittent, rather than continuous, fetal monitoring may be appropriate in some cases, but be sure to discuss this with your doctor or midwife.

While there are plenty of natural methods you can use to try to bring on labor and plenty of old wives' tales to go along with them , it's hard to prove that any of them will do the trick. 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. You may also have some intense cramps and spotting for the next day or two. It can also be a little uncomfortable to have your water broken.

You may feel a tug followed by a warm trickle or gush of fluid. With prostaglandin, you might have some strong cramping as well. With oxytocin, contractions are usually more frequent and regular than in a labor that starts naturally.

Inducing labor is not like turning on a faucet. If the body isn't ready, an induction might fail and, after hours or days of trying, a woman may end up having a cesarean delivery C-section. This appears to be more likely if the cervix is not yet ripe. If the doctor ruptures the amniotic sac and labor doesn't begin, another method of inducing labor also might be necessary because there's a risk of infection to both mother and baby if the membranes are ruptured for a long time before the baby is born.

When prostaglandin or oxytocin is used, there is a risk of abnormal contractions developing. In that case, the doctor may remove the vaginal insert or turn the oxytocin dose down. While it is rare, there is an increase in the risk of developing a tear in the uterus uterine rupture when these medications are used. Other complications associated with oxytocin use are low blood pressure and low blood sodium which can cause problems such as seizures.

Another potential risk of inducing labor is giving birth to a late pre-term baby born after 34 and before 37 weeks. Because the due date EDD may be wrong. Your due date is 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period LMP. Babies born late pre-term are generally healthy but may have temporary problems such as jaundice, trouble feeding, problems with breathing, or difficulty maintaining body temperature.

They may also be more likely than full term babies to have developmental or school problems later on.