Induction of Labour

Being overdue can be worrying. You may expect labour to start any minute and get very stressed when it doesn’t. Keep busy, don’t wait at home where you may be bored, and worry even more. Keeping an eye on your baby’s movements is extremely important, contact your LMC if they decrease markedly.

Induction of Labour

Once you are past your due date, you may be given a date for induction of labour—where labour is started artificially. Induction will usually be offered 7–14 days past your due date. Your LMC may suggest a scan to ensure your baby is well.  Some women are induced before 40 weeks. An induction will be moving away from your original birth plan, so remember you may need some of the things you might not have considered earlier such as pain relief. 

Coping with an Induction 

First—make sure that you understand why you are being offered an induction. How will it be carried out, and what will the likely course of your labour be? Ask whether you may need other interventions during labour. Talk with your LMC about how you can move around, change position and use your breathing and relaxation to help you cope with the pain, despite having an IV in. Keep an open mind about pain relief and choose what is best for you when, and if, you decide you need something to help.

Stretch & Sweep/Membrane Sweep

A stretch and sweep may be done to encourage labour.
This is vaginal exam where your LMC puts a finger through the cervix and in a sweeping motion attempts to separate the membranes from the cervix. Sometimes your cervix may not be open enough to do this . They will attempt to stretch the opening of the cervix. 

D.I.Y Induction 

Many women will try natural methods to induce their labour including acupuncture, homoeopathy, reflexology, and aromatherapy. Nipple stimulation has been shown to have benefits as this releases oxytocin which can help your body go into labour. Massage can help you to relax. When you are relaxed your brain sends signals to your body saying it is safe and this may help your body labour.

Induction of Labour (IOL) 

There are a few different ways labour can be induced. Which stage you start on may depend on how ready your cervix is. Your cervix is given a score, called a Bishop score. This will guide which method of induction is used. 

Misoprostol is an oral medication given every two hours until you are contracting regularly with a max of 8 doses in 24 hours. The misoprostol solution is taken for ‘ripening’ the cervix and starting labour. Misoprostol may be given in tablet form or an oral liquid that will be drawn into a plastic syringe and you will be asked to squirt it into your mouth and swallow. The solution is watery and does not have a bad taste but it may feel grainy.  

Prostaglandins These hormones help to start labour by encouraging the cervix to soften and shorten, allowing it to open and contractions to begin. Prostaglandins are given as a tablet or gel inserted into your vagina. This is done in the hospital. Most women go into labour, although frequently more than one dose may be needed. When contractions start, your baby’s heartrate and contractions are monitored using an electronic fetal monitor. 

Balloon Catheter A small catheter is inserted into your cervix and filled with saline. It stretches your cervix to encourage dilation and effacement. This will be left in for a maximum of 24 hours. 

ARM Artificial Rupture of the Membranes or “breaking your waters”. The midwife/obstetrician will perform a vaginal exam and use an amnihook, like a plastic stick with a small nick on the end, to open the amniotic sac/membranes. The waters around baby, amniotic fluid, will begin to drain. You may feel these trickle throughout your labour.

Oxytocin This is a synthetic form of the hormone your body produces naturally to start labour off. Oxytocin is given through a drip and makes your body contract regularly. Once this begins you will be monitored continuously with an electronic fetal monitor.  Some women choose to have an epidural for pain relief.