The same is true for how thin your cervix is. Your doctor may give you a percentage to indicate how much your cervix is "effaced" on a scale of 0— percent. A thin cervix is considered "ripe," which is ideal when it comes to induction. Ever heard of this strange term? Your doctor uses a Bishop score to determine how ready your cervix is for labor. It takes into account each of the factors listed above, as well as a few others.
This score can determine how long it takes for you to give birth after being induced, and your likelihood of success, says Stone. The better your Bishop score, the shorter your induction should be. If this is not your first rodeo, your induction will probably go much more quickly than if you were a first-time mom. Often your cervix is more dilated and effaced the second time.
And the tissues and ligaments have been stretched from the first time so it's easier to accommodate another birth. A frustrating but important fact to keep in mind: Not every induction ends in a vaginal delivery.
When you are induced, your body is artificially forced into labor, likely before you and your baby are ready. This can lead to a stalled labor , more interventions to speed up your labor, and then a possible cesarean section. Well, That Depends. By Christin Perry October 15, Save Pin FB More. Credit: Getty Images. Be the first to comment! No comments yet. 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. Some women swear by them, but none of the homegrown methods passed from mom to mom has been documented as consistently effective. That's probably at least partly due to the fact that when they do appear to work, it's difficult to establish whether they actually worked — or whether labor, coincidentally, started on its own at the same time.
Still, if you're at the end of your rope and who isn't by 40 weeks and beyond? If this is the case for you, your practitioner may try to induce labor again or opt for a C-section. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations.
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.
Again, this is usually done once the cervix is favourable, and oxytocin is used to keep labour consistent. Each induction method carries some specific potential risks, so you and your care provider have to weigh the risks and benefits against the risks and benefits of continuing the pregnancy without inducing labour. Some uncommon but serious risks include uterine rupture and heavy bleeding after delivery. New research suggests that an induction at 39 weeks actually leads to a lower C-section rate, lower infant mortality and fewer blood pressure problems for women.
Some of those studies point to a lower rate of admission to the NICU , while others found a slightly higher rate. Induction may not be right for you if you have had a previous C-section or other major uterine surgery and are attempting a vaginal birth after Caesarian VBAC due to the risk of uterine rupture; if your placenta is blocking the cervix known as placenta previa ; if you have an active genital herpes outbreak; or if your baby is breech or transverse bum down or lying sideways in the uterus.
There are a bunch of home remedies out there to get labour started. If you have a midwife, she may have some approaches that she would like to use first, including the stretch and sweep described above. Some traditional midwives, like Indigenous midwives , may use an herbal tea called blue cohosh to induce labour, but talk to your care provider beforehand.
Nipple stimulation, either manually or with a breast pump , is another anecdotal approach. Destinee Heikkinen, a mom of four, knows a fair bit about trying to get labour started—all her pregnancies were close to 42 weeks. The bottom line: Labour, like parenting, is unpredictable and messy.
The best thing you can do is arm yourself with information to help with decision-making every step of the way. Giving birth Guide to labour induction: What to expect if you're getting induced If your midwife or OB has recommended inducing your labour, there are several different induction methods and terms you should know about.
Photo: iStock Photo. Foley catheter A Foley catheter is a small balloon inserted by a doctor into the cervix and inflated about two or three centimetres in diameter. Amniotomy An amniotomy is where your care provider uses an instrument that looks like a crochet hook to break the amniotic sac, allowing amniotic fluid to leak out.
Are there risks to induction?
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