The purpose of labor induction, commonly referred to as inducing labor, is to initiate uterine contractions and promote a healthy vaginal birth before natural labor begins. If you’re wondering how to prepare for labor induction, it’s important to discuss your options with your healthcare provider and understand the steps involved for a safe delivery.
For a variety of reasons, both medical and nonmedical (selected), healthcare professionals, physicians, and midwives may recommend inducing labor.
The following information will help you get ready for labor induction. Also aware you about how to prepare for labor induction.
What you gain from this article
Why is labour induced?
At every prenatal visit, a medical professional, such as a doctor or midwife, will assess both your health and the health of your unborn child. This entails assessing the size, weight, gestational age, and position of your unborn child within your uterus.
In order to assess if you or the unborn child are at risk and whether labor induction is necessary, this may involve monitoring your cervix and taking the big picture into account at later consultations.
If there is a reason to be concerned about your or your unborn child’s health, a labor induction may be recommended. Knowing how to prepare for labor induction can also be beneficial, especially if you live far from your hospital and need to manage the timing of your labor and delivery effectively.
Other explanations are as follows:
- The anticipated deadline has passed.
- diabetes throughout pregnancy.
- Chorioamnionitis is a uterine infection.
- No contractions, but broken water.
- abruption or blockage of the placenta.
- Low or leaking amniotic fluid is known as oligohydramnios.
- The baby is growing too slowly.
It’s crucial to ask questions and go over all of the possibilities, advantages, and possible hazards of how to prepare for labor induction process with your healthcare professional because women with specific medical conditions shouldn’t be advised to have one.
Methods of labor induction
There are a variety of labor induction techniques, and what suits one woman or one birth might not suit another.
There are numerous medical and surgical approaches in addition to natural inducing methods (both proven and untested), including acupuncture, castor oil, hot baths, nipple and breast stimulation, herbal supplements, and eggplant casseroles.
To help open the cervix and induce contractions, a physician or midwife may employ medications and other techniques. Among the techniques are:
- During an amniotomy, sometimes known as “breaking the water,” your doctor makes a tiny puncture in your amniotic sac. Additionally, this will intensify your uterine contractions.
- Pitocin is a hormone that accelerates labor; it is also known as oxytocin. An intravenous line is used to provide pitocin to your arm.
- Cervical ripening is the process of stretching, softening, and expanding the cervix by taking medication orally or by injecting a medication (prostaglandin analogs) into the vagina.
- Your healthcare professional inserts a balloon or catheter, such as a Foley bulb induction, which expands.
- When your healthcare practitioner strips the amniotic sac’s thin tissue from the uterine wall, they do so using a gloved finger.
Did you know?
From time to time, a doctor will use more than one method to induce labor and delivery.
How much time does it take to induce labor?
Each effort goes at its own speed. If your cervix is ripe and soft, you might just need a little prodding to get the contractions going. Days may pass before delivery if your cervix requires extra time.
How to Prepare for Labor Induction: The duration of an induced labor can vary significantly, ranging from a few hours to several days. In some cases, labor induction might be unsuccessful or require repetition. How to Prepare for Labor Induction often depends on factors like the cervix’s ripeness at the time of the procedure and how your body responds to the chosen induction technique.
Most women will start labor within hours after their water breaks, and contractions can start as soon as 30 minutes after taking oxytocin.
Before calling the induction a bust and proceeding with other interventions, all medical professionals should give you at least 24 hours to experience the early stages of labor.
After a failed induction, you may be released home and asked to reschedule the procedure for a later time if you and your child are both healthy and doing well. Yes, that is a real possibility.
What are the potential risks?
Labor induction carries risks, including:
- Induction failed. If, after 24 or more hours, using the right techniques to induce does not result in a vaginal delivery, the induction may fail. A C-section may then be required.
- Infection. Certain labor induction techniques, such as rupturing the membranes, may put you and your unborn child at higher risk of infection. So, before take this type of decision you must need to know how to prepare for labor induction.
- Rupture of the uterus. This is an uncommon yet dangerous side effect. The scar line after a previous C-section or extensive uterine surgery is where the uterus tears. An emergency C-section is required in the event of uterine rupture in order to avoid potentially fatal complications. It may be necessary to remove the uterus. We refer to that procedure as a hysterectomy.
- Bleeding following birth. The danger that the uterine muscles won’t contract properly after giving birth is increased by labor induction. After a baby is born, this condition, known as uterine atony, may cause severe bleeding.
- Fetal heart rate is low. Contractions that are excessive or unusual may be brought on by medications used to induce delivery. The baby’s heart rate may decrease or fluctuate as a result, and its oxygen supply may be reduced.
Did you know?
Before consenting to any procedure, it’s crucial to go over the possible dangers for both you and your unborn child during induction in detail with a medical professional, such as a doctor or midwife.
Labor induction isn’t for everyone. It might not be an option if:
- Placenta previa is when the placenta blocks the cervix.
- Umbilical cord prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord descends into the vagina before the baby does.
- You have undergone major uterine surgery or a C-section with a vertical cut, known as a classic incision.
- Your genital herpes infection is still active.
- Your unborn child is either sideways or breech, or lying buttocks first.
How to Prepare for Labor Induction: 7 tips to prepare
An estimated 20–40% of pregnancies are induced; however, very few couples intend to have their labor induced! That’s quite a bit!
I won’t get into the specifics of whether or not you should get induced in this blog article. In actuality, many couples are not sufficiently aware of the risks associated with induction, and how to prepare for labor induction, that’s why the induction rate is too much high. However, that is a subject for another time.
1. Take a deep breath
Even the most composed mother can become a little agitated when she hears that you need to be induced. Social media posts regarding severe Pitocin contractions and emergency cesarean sections are undoubtedly detrimental.
If you’re feeling anxious, take a moment to breathe. Ideally, go for a stroll outside and remind yourself that you are capable of handling this. Take deep, abdominal breaths to calm your mind. Every year, millions of mothers successfully undergo labor induction, and the vast majority of babies are born safely and gracefully.
How prepare for labor induction, stay informed about the process, discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider, and ensure you have a comfortable and supportive environment. Practicing relaxation techniques, staying hydrated, and maintaining a positive mindset can also help you feel more confident and prepared for the journey ahead.
2. For a longer stay, pack your backpack.
Your induction could happen in a few short days or over several days. Keep the “worst-case” scenario in mind! I suggest bringing:
- Several sets of underwear (particularly during the first few days of your induction, you should be permitted to wear underwear).
- Toiletries and shower supplies.
- Slippers
- Earplugs with a mask
- Comfortable labor gown (however, if you decide to acquire one, make sure it has monitoring and epidural openings)
- Your personal pillow
- Additional blankets (for you and your guardian)
- Entertainment (see below for more details)
- Snacks
3. Pack plenty of entertainment
Inductions can take a long time, particularly if a balloon or cervical ripener is used initially. Although each mother’s experience is unique, those can be slow to function and occasionally come with few unpleasant contractions.
I advise bringing easily consumed and diverting entertainment. Avoid bringing a focus-demanding textbook or classic fiction.
I binge-watched episodes like Gilmore Girls and ANTM because they are simple to watch and mildly entertaining, and my early labors are EXTREMELY lengthy (24+ hours). A movie marathon is another option! Bring a computer or tablet and earphones for both of you because not all hospitals have TVs or streaming services in the rooms.
4. Assemble your support team
We advise having labor support regardless of the type of birth you plan, but with an induction, a support team is especially crucial. Among other things, you’ll want someone to bounce decisions off of, give you back massages, and support you mentally. The first person you should think about as a member of your support team is your partner.
5. Be patient
Preparing for labor is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. For first-time mothers, the suggestion of a cesarean section might feel like a relief, especially if labor induction is on the table. However, it’s essential to fully understand the risks and implications before agreeing to any medical procedure. This is not to say that cesarean sections are undesirable—they can be lifesaving when performed appropriately. In fact, I’ve had one myself! But knowing how to prepare for labor induction and exploring all your options can help you make informed decisions and feel empowered during your childbirth journey.
Here’s a mental shift that you can make to help you be more patient:
When you show up for your induction, your labor has not yet begun. Actually, until you are 6 cm dilated, you are not regarded as being in active labor.
So till then, take it easy and unwind as much as you can!
6. Before your induction starts, make sure to eat a lot of food
Eat a large, high-protein meal prior to your induction. Hospitals have different eating and drinking policies. The benefits of eating during labor, particularly in the early stages, are well supported by research. Later on, you might not feel very hungry, but make sure to stay hydrated.
7. Partners: know comfort measures!
Although waiting until “active labor” is the optimal time to get an epidural, this does not guarantee that you won’t experience unpleasant contractions. While it is true that the drugs used for induction can result in more frequent or severe contractions, each mother experiences pain differently.
A qualified support person can be incredibly helpful during labor induction. Your ability to manage contraction discomfort can be significantly improved with comfort techniques like the double hip squeeze. In many cases, if labor progresses quickly, it is possible to induce labor without the use of an epidural.
Creating a calming environment can also enhance relaxation and ease the process. Bright fluorescent hospital lights can add unnecessary stress, making labor more challenging. To create a more soothing atmosphere, consider dimming the lights, using electric candles, or adding twinkling lights to help you stay calm and focused.
If you’re preparing for labor induction, talk to your healthcare provider about what to expect, including different induction methods, pain management options, and ways to stay comfortable throughout the process. Staying informed and having a solid support system can make a significant difference in your birthing experience.
What you can expect
During the procedure
Labor can be induced in a variety of methods. To aid in the onset of labor, the medical staff may employ one or a combination of the following methods. A member of your care team monitors the baby’s heart rate and your contractions both during and after these operations.
Your healthcare professional might:
- Make the cervix ripe. Most of the time, the cervix starts to relax before to birth. We refer to this as ripening. It opens and thins as well. However, the cervix may not always be prepared for induction. The body produces prostaglandins, which can be taken orally or inserted into the vagina. This aids in cervix ripening.
Alternatively, a catheter—a tiny tube with a balloon attached—is inserted into the cervix. Cervix ripening can be facilitated by filling the balloon with saltwater and pressing it on the inside of the cervix.
- Sweep the amniotic sac’s membranes. When sweeping the membranes, also known as stripping them, a medical practitioner runs a gloved finger over the amniotic sac’s covering close to the fetus. This keeps the sac away from the lower uterine wall and the cervix.
- Cause the amniotic sac to rupture. A medical practitioner creates a tiny incision in the amniotic sac with this procedure, which is also referred to as an amniotomy. The water breaks because of the hole.
Only when the baby’s head is deep in the pelvis and the cervix is thinned and partially opened (dilated) is an amniotomy performed.
- Administer a medication intravenously. Oxytocin (Pitocin), a hormone that induces the uterus to contract, may be injected by a medical expert in the hospital. Oxytocin is more effective at accelerating labor that has already started than it is at ripening the cervical tissue.
How ripe the cervix is when the induction begins, how labor is started, how to prepare for labor induction, and how the body reacts all affect how long it takes for labor to begin.It can take minutes to several hours.
After the procedure
A vaginal birth is the most common outcome of labor induction. A failed induction could result in a C-section or another induction if the technique doesn’t result in a vaginal birth.
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