Where to give birth - the options
What is induction of labour?
Induction of labour means starting labour artificially. You may be offered induction if you go past your due date, if you or your baby has certain medical conditions, or if your waters break before labour begins.
What will happen?
You’ll come to the hospital where both you and your baby will have a full check, including a scan to confirm the baby is head down. This usually happens on the Antenatal Ward, but if you have specific conditions, it may be done on Labour Ward. Your baby’s heart rate will be monitored and the induction process will be explained to you.
You’ll be offered a vaginal examination and then usually one of the following methods to help soften and open your cervix:
- Prostaglandins: A hormone pessary or gel placed in the vagina to soften the cervix. You can move around afterward, and some women start having contractions. Some go into labour after one dose, others may need more or have their waters broken next.
- Balloon Catheter: Usually offered to women with previous caesarean sections or uterine surgery instead of prostaglandins. A catheter is inserted into the cervix to open it mechanically. This is usually done on Labour Ward.
Some women may not require prostaglandin or balloon catheter and may be able to have their waters broken straight away. This is less common.
When your cervix is soft and open enough, your waters may be broken by a midwife on Labour Ward. This sometimes involves a wait for a room and staff. Baby’s heart rate will be monitored before and after.
After your waters are broken, some women will be monitored for 2–4 hours to see if contractions start. Others may be given an intravenous drip of oxytocin immediately to stimulate contractions. The dose starts low and increases until contractions are strong and regular. Your baby’s heart rate will be monitored continuously throughout while the oxytocin infusion is running until birth.
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Things to know about induction
- Inductions can take many hours, sometimes even days, especially if it’s your first labour.
- You will usually stay in hospital, but in some cases, you may be able to go home during parts of the process.
- Induction may lead to more vaginal examinations and increase the likelihood of needing pain relief such as epidurals. It may also reduce the chances of using a birthing pool or birth centre.
- Most inductions take place on Labour Ward, where you and your baby can be closely monitored, and doctors are readily available.
- Some babies may not respond well to induction, so heart rate monitoring is important to ensure your baby’s safety. If problems arise, emergency interventions like caesarean or instrumental birth may be recommended.
- Sometimes induction doesn’t work. If this happens, a doctor will discuss your options, which might include repeating the process or considering a caesarean section.