Induction of labour

When is labour induced ?

An induced labour is one that is started artificially. It’s fairly common for labour to be induced. Every year, one in ten labours are induced.

Sometimes labour can be induced if your baby is overdue or if there is any sort of risk to you or your baby’s health. This risk could be if you have a health condition such as high blood pressure for example, or if your baby is failing to grow.

Induction will be planned in advance. You’ll be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your doctor and midwife, and find out why they think your labour should be induced. It’s your choice whether to have your labour induced or not.

Most women go into labour spontaneously by the time they are 42 weeks pregnant. If your pregnancy lasts longer than 42 weeks and you decide not to have your labour induced, you should be offered increased monitoring to check your baby’s wellbeing.

 

Why you might be induced

 

If you are overdue

Induction is offered to all women who don’t go into labour naturally by 42 weeks, as there is a higher risk of stillbirth or problems for the baby if you go over 42 weeks pregnancy.

 

If your waterbag breaks early

If your waterbag breaks more than 24 hours before delivery, there is an increased risk of infection to you and your baby. You may need a cesarean, and your baby may be vulnerable to problems associated with being premature if your waters break before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

 

If your waters break before 34 weeks, you will be offered induction only if there are other factors that suggest it’s the best thing for you and your baby.If your waters break between 34 and 37 weeks, your doctor and nurse should discuss your options with you before you come to a decision about having an induction.They should also discuss the neonatal (newborn) special care hospital facilites in your area with you.

 

If your waterbag breaks at 37 weeks or over, you should be given the choice of induction or expectant management. Expectant management is when your healthcare professionals monitor your condition and your baby’s wellbeing, and your pregnancy can progress naturally as long as it’s safe for both of you.

 

If you have a health condition or your baby isn’t thriving

You may be offered an induction if you have a condition that means it will be safer to have your baby sooner, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or obstetric cholestasis.

If this is the case, your doctor and midwife will explain your options to you so you can decide whether or not to have your labour induced.


Membrane sweep

During an internal examination, your midwife or doctor sweeps their finger around your cervix. This action should separate the membranes of the amniotic sac surrounding your baby from your cervix. This separation releases hormones (prostaglandins), which may kick-start your labour.

Having a membrane sweep doesn’t hurt, but expect some discomfort or bleeding afterwards.
Before inducing labour, you will be offered a “membrane sweep”, also known as a “cervical sweep”, to bring on labour.

If labour does not start after a membrane sweep, you’ll be offered induction of labour. Induction is always carried out in a hospital maternity unit. You will still be looked after by midwives, but doctors will be available if you need their help.

How labour is induced

If you’re being induced, you’ll go into the hospital maternity unit.

Contractions can be started by inserting a tablet (or pessary) or gel into the vagina. Induction of labour may take a while, particularly if the cervix (the neck of the uterus) needs to be softened with pessaries or gels.

If you have a vaginal tablet or gel, you may be allowed to go home while you wait for it to work. You should contact your midwife or obstetrician if:

• your contractions begin

• you have had no contractions after six hours

If you’ve had no contractions after six hours, you may be offered another tablet or gel.

If you have a controlled-release pessary inserted into your vagina, it can take 24 hours to work. If you aren’t having contractions after 24 hours, you may be offered another dose.

Sometimes a hormone drip is needed to speed up the labour. Once labour starts, it should proceed normally, but it can sometimes take 24 to 48 hours to get you into labour.

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Vaidehi Women's & Children Hospital in Ahmedabad is fully equipped with modern medical machines and exclusive services for Gynecology-Maternity, Fertility & IVF, Vaccination Clinic, NICU, Pathology, Sonography, 24 Hours Pharmacy, Exclusive Health Checkup, Round The Clock Emergency Service. Our doctors and staff are always committed to listen to your complaints and answering your each and every question to your utmost satisfaction. We give all kind of preventive as well as curative treatment. Our services for women and children are set in with trained and seasoned nurse who ensure that you and your baby are well taken care of. Vaidehi Women's & Children Hospital is staffed with experienced consultants to offer professional care in Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology, Pediatrics and other specialities and subspecialties for you and your baby.

• 24-hr consultant-led emergency and specialty services including perinatal services

• All pediatric and allied services for children

• Sophisticated maternal care

• State-of-the-art labour rooms

• Committed team of professionals 24x7

 

VAIDEHI WOMEN'S & CHILDREN HOSPITAL

Dr. Nirav Patel (M.S. Gynec)

Dr. Manisha Patel (M.B.B.S., D.C.H.)

Dr. Chintan Patel (M.D., DNB Medicine)

105 to 112, 1^st Floor, Shashwat Mahadev-1 Complex, RTO Road,

Opp. Suryam Greens, Vastral, Ahmedabad - 382418.

Call for Appointment: +91 76230 40999

Source :  by VAIDEHI WOMEN'S & CHILDREN HOSPITAL, Vastral, Ahmedabad.

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