Inducing Labor

Inducing labor is when a doctor will start it before it happens on its own. Inducing labor can be elective (which is when a doctor will suggest doing it) or indicated (this happens there is a need that is motivated due to certain complication be it obstetrical, medical or fetal).

Elective Inducing
There are some women that like the thought of having a programmed delivery; however there are others that prefer it happen on its own accord. And there are also some doctors that will believe this procedure is helpful while there are others that are opposed to the concept unless it is absolutely vital. There are several reasons a woman can choose to getting induced, the following are some of them:

• Family reasons. This is one way a woman can organize certain things that have to do with other children in the family, work schedules of the husband or partner or the woman’s, and the interaction with the rest of the family.

• Women also do this because they can make sure they will have the delivery with a specific doctor and with whom they have most likely developed a special relationship with and want him or her to be there.

• In order to have the baby when there is a good number of people working in the maternity floor as well as other specialists available, more so if the woman is at risk of certain complications etc.

• To decrease the anxiety due to a history of other bad results during labor such as fetal death for example, that could anticipate the birth.

• To make sure she will be able to get to the hospital on time especially if the woman lives far & has a history if quick deliveries.

There are some studies that suggest that elective inducing of labor can increase the need for practicing a cesarean. If the neck is not dilated, or if the fetus’s head has not fit into the pelvis, the risk of a cesarean is probably higher. However if all the conditions are favorable for inducing, the risk of a cesarean does not increase at all. The amount of time the woman will need to spend in the hospital or clinic does increase a little when labor is induced though.

If a woman is less then thirty-nine months pregnant and is planning an induced labor, an amniocentesis is usually required in order to evaluate the maturity of the fetus’s lungs. If you are considering having an induced labor, it is important to know that there is a slightly higher risk that the outcome might end up in a cesarean. If you are able to and the doctor is able to assume the risks, induced labor can be an adequate option due to personal reasons, medical, or psychological.