Medical reasons for inducing labor (original) (raw)

What is inducing labor?

Inducing labor (also called labor induction) is when your healthcare provider gives you medicine or uses other methods, like breaking your water (amniotic sac), to make your labor start. The amniotic sac (also called bag of waters) is the sac inside the uterus (womb) that holds your growing baby. The sac is filled with amniotic fluid. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus get tight and then relax. Contractions help push your baby out of your uterus.

Your provider may recommend inducing labor if your health or your baby’s health is at risk or if you’re 2 weeks or more past your due date. For some women, inducing labor is the best way to keep mom and baby healthy. Inducing labor should be for medical reasons only.

What are medical reasons for inducing labor?

If your pregnancy is healthy, it’s best to let labor begin on its own. If your provider talks to you about inducing labor, ask if it’s safe and possible to wait until at least 39 weeks to be induced. This gives your baby’s lungs and brain all the time they need to fully grow and develop before they’re born.

If there are problems with your pregnancy or your baby’s health, you may need to have your baby earlier than 39 weeks. In these cases, your provider may recommend an early birth because the benefits outweigh the risks. Inducing labor before 39 weeks of pregnancy is recommended only if there are health problems that affect you and your baby.

Your provider may recommend inducing labor if:

• Your pregnancy lasts longer than 41 to 42 weeks. After 42 weeks, the placenta may not work as well as it did earlier in pregnancy. The placenta grows in your uterus (womb) and supplies your baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. After 42 weeks, there is also more risk of having a baby larger than average. This is called fetal macrosomia and can lead to problems during delivery. Other problems are higher risk of a Cesarean birth (also called c-section), stillbirth or your baby breathing in their own waste.
• Your placenta is separating from your uterus (also called placental abruption) or you have an infection in your uterus.
• Your water breaks before labor begins. This is called premature rupture of membranes (also called PROM).
• You have health problems, like diabetes, high blood pressure or preeclampsia or problems with your heart, lungs or kidneys. Diabetes is when your body has too much sugar (called glucose) in your blood. This can damage organs in your body, including blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. High blood pressure is when the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels is too high and stresses your heart. Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure condition that can happen after the 20th week of pregnancy or after giving birth (called postpartum preeclampsia).
• You have an infection in the uterus.
• Your baby has stopped growing. or is growing too slowly. This is called fetal growth restriction.
• You have a condition like oligohydramnios, which is when your baby doesn’t have enough amniotic fluid, or you have Rh disease, which causes problems with your baby’s blood.

What are the risks of scheduling labor induction for non-medical reasons?

Scheduling labor induction may cause problems for you and your baby because your due date may not be exactly right. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly when you got pregnant. If you schedule labor induction and your due date is off by a week or 2, your baby may be born too early. Babies born early (called preterm babies) may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born on time. This is why it’s important to wait until at least 39 weeks to induce labor.

Risks of inducing labor include:

• Failed induction. This is when vaginal delivery does not happen after 24 hours or more after the induction. You may need a c-section.
• Low fetal heart rate. The medicines used to induce labor may cause stronger and more frequent contractions. Frequent contractions may cause changes in your baby’s heart rate.
• Infection for both you and your baby.
• Uterine rupture. This is when the uterus tears during labor. If you had a c-section before, labor induction may cause tears where the scar is. This is rare but serious and can lead to life-threatening complications.
• Bleeding after delivery. Being induced can affect how the muscles in the uterus contract. This can lead to more bleeding after your baby is born.

If your provider recommends inducing labor, ask these questions:

• Why do we need to induce my labor?
• Is there a problem with my health or the health of my baby that may make inducing labor necessary before 39 weeks? Can I wait to have my baby closer to 39 weeks?
• How will you induce my labor?
• What can I expect when you induce labor?
• Will inducing labor increase the chance that I'll need to have a c-section?
• What are my options for pain medicine?

Last reviewed: December, 2024

See also: 39 weeks infographic