Written by Editorial Team
As you reach the end of your term, the cervix normally becomes soft, begins to dilate and efface, and prepares for labor and delivery. Labor starts with regular, frequent, and eventually intense contractions. However, this will not happen in all pregnancies. Sometimes labor starts, but progresses very slowly, and in some situations, the labor does not start naturally, this is when the significance of labor induction and augmentation comes into the picture.
Nowadays, labor induction and augmentation are very common and many pregnant women prefer to do it even for non-medical reasons such as if they have passed their due date without any signs of labor, to finish the delivery as fast as possible, etc. However, remember, both labor induction and augmentation are procedures that compel the body to do something it is not yet set to do. Moreover, both procedures have its own risk factors. Continue reading to explore everything you need to know about these two procedures.
In This Article
When your body is preparing for a natural process of delivery, it starts sending signals to the brain to produce more oxytocin in order to start uterine contractions. The pelvic muscles and uterine wall respond by increasing the frequency and intensity of contractions. This is known as labor. In most cases, active labor will start on its own.
After feeling frequent contractions at regular intervals, your cervix will start dilating and preparing for delivery. In pregnancies where the labor may not start on its own, but vaginal delivery needs to happen soon, labor has to be induced artificially. This is called labor induction.
The most common reasons when the doctor decides to induce labor are:
This is the most common reason for labor induction. A pregnancy is considered as post-term or overdue when it advances beyond 42 weeks. Overdue pregnancy is associated with fetal, neonatal, and maternal complications. Labor induction is an option in such cases.
Labor is counted as “fast” or “precipitous” when the whole procedure of labor and delivery lasts three hours or less. Doctors recommend induction for mothers with a history of precipitous labor to ensure the baby comes out in the right place at the right time, thereby reducing the complications that can occur due to precipitous labor.
If the mother has health issues such as high blood pressure, placenta abruption, preeclampsia, any infection, pulmonary issues, or gestational diabetes, which may put the mother or baby at risk, the doctor may decide to induce labor to avoid any further health complications.
When the amniotic sac or water breaks and the fluid start to leak before the labor begins, it is called premature rupture of the membrane. If there are no other complications, the doctor will wait for 12 to 24 hours (maximum) for the labor to begin and then decide to induce labor.
IUGR refers to a condition in which the baby is smaller than it should be because it is not growing at a normal rate inside the womb. Delayed growth in babies can lead to various health conditions. So if the baby is in urgent need of medical assistance, and the chance of vaginal delivery is less, labor is induced a couple of weeks before the due date.
If the baby dies in the uterus any time after the 20th week of gestation, it is called intrauterine fetal demise. Labor is induced in such cases to take the fetus out of the womb.
If the pregnant woman is experiencing Oligohydramnios, a condition characterized by a low level of amniotic fluid, the common practice is to induce the labor before the due date.
There are several methods to induce labor. However, the first step is to examine the cervix to see if it is favorable i.e. if it is slightly opened or dilated, or unfavorable i.e. it remains tightly closed.
There are several methods to soften and dilate the firmly closed cervix. The procedure is collectively called cervical ripening. Here are some artificial hormones and medicines used for cervical ripening:
Once the cervix becomes favorable, synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) is administered through an IV drip. This hormone prompts uterine contraction. The contractions and the baby’s heartbeat are monitored throughout the procedure. Usually, synthetic oxytocin is administered in small amounts and then eventually increased based on the frequency and intensity of contractions
Mostly labor induction results in vaginal birth. However, if it fails C-section is scheduled.
Inducing labor is not considered an option and the doctor straight away goes for a C-section if:
In most cases inducing labor is perfectly safe but like everything, it does have a few risks involved. Some of the complications associated with labor induction are:
In some pregnancies, the labor though starts on its own, will not progress or the contractions may not be frequent and forceful enough to dilate the cervix and move the baby through the birth canal or if the contractions stop mid labor, then the doctor may intervene and try to stimulate the contractions. This intervention done on purpose to increase the intensity of contractions and help the labor progress smoothly through delivery is called labor augmentation.
Even if you are in active labor, your labor may be augmented due to any of the following reasons:
Labor can be augmented by both natural therapy and medical interventions. Some of the ways of labor augmentation are:
The risk is more or less similar to the risk associated with labor induction. The only thing is that, as the labor starts on its own, the baby in most cases is not a preemie.
If you are in any kind of doubt regarding your labor and delivery or if you are nearing your due date and anxious about the process of delivery, it is always better to have a clear and hearty chat with your doctor.
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