Late pregnancy can be challenging — you may feel large all over, your feet and back might hurt, you might not have the energy to do much of anything, and you're beyond ready to meet the little one you've nurtured all this time.
Which is why waiting a little longer than you'd expected can be particularly hard. Still, being past your due date doesn't guarantee that your doctor or other health care provider will do anything to induce or artificially start labor — at least not right away.
Labor induction is what doctors use to try to help labor along using medications or other medical techniques. Years ago, some doctors routinely induced labor. But now it's not usually done unless there's a true medical need for it. Labor is usually allowed to take its natural course.
However, in some situations, a health care provider may recommend induction. Induction also can be appropriate under certain circumstances, as with a mother who is full term and has a history of rapid deliveries or lives far from a hospital. Some mothers request elective inductions for convenience, but these do come with risks. Some methods of induction are less invasive and carry fewer risks than others. Ways that doctors may try to induce labor by getting contractions started include:.
Stripping the membranes can be a little painful or uncomfortable, although it usually only takes a minute or so. You may also have some intense cramps and spotting for the next day or two. It can also be a little uncomfortable to have your water broken. You may feel a tug followed by a warm trickle or gush of fluid.
With prostaglandin, you might have some strong cramping as well. With oxytocin, contractions are usually more frequent and regular than in a labor that starts naturally. Inducing labor is not like turning on a faucet.
If the body isn't ready, an induction might fail and, after hours or days of trying, a woman may end up having a cesarean delivery C-section. This appears to be more likely if the cervix is not yet ripe. If the doctor ruptures the amniotic sac and labor doesn't begin, another method of inducing labor also might be necessary because there's a risk of infection to both mother and baby if the membranes are ruptured for a long time before the baby is born.
When prostaglandin or oxytocin is used, there is a risk of abnormal contractions developing. In that case, the doctor may remove the vaginal insert or turn the oxytocin dose down. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Wing DA. Induction of labor. Accessed April 25, Frequently asked questions.
Pregnancy FAQ What to expect after your due date. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Reaffirmed Labor, delivery and postpartum care FAQ Labor induction. Wing DA. Cervical ripening and induction of labor in women with a prior cesarean delivery. Meconium aspiration syndrome. Merck Manual Professional Version.
Bush M, et al. Umbilical cord prolapse. Gabbe SG, et al. Abnormal labor and induction of labor. In: Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies.
Philadelphia, Pa. Cunningham FG, et al. Induction and augmentation of labor. In: Williams Obstetrics. New York, N. What is inducing labor? What are medical reasons for inducing labor? 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. 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.
Your baby has a stopped growing. Or your baby has oligohydramnios. What are the risks of scheduling labor induction for non-medical reasons?
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: September, See also: 39 weeks infographic. Prepare for a healthy pregnancy and baby this year. Help save lives every month Give monthly and join the fight for the health of moms and babies.
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