Induction of Labour

Garima had developed high blood pressure during pregnancy . She was only 37 weeks and with three more weeks to go her doctor had suggested that she undergo early delivery by induction of labour. She did not understand how labour which she had read was a natural unexpected phenomenon could be artificially induced . She needed to know more. Inducing labor is the artificial start of the birth process through medications .

Medical Reasons For Inducing Labor

• When a complication develops such as: hypertension , heart disease, gestational diabetes, or bleeding during pregnancy.

• If the baby is indanger of not getting enough nutrients and oxygen from the placenta in case of intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR)

• The amniotic sac has ruptured but labor hasn’t started which is called PROM (Prelabour rupture of membranes.)

• The pregnancy is prolonged beyond 40 weeks with possible risk to the baby from a gradual decrease in the supply of nutrients from the placenta(Postdatism)

• There is an infection inside the uterus known as chorioamnionitis.

How Is Labor Induced?

Labor can be induced by the following methods:

1. Medications

Prostaglandin: Suppositories or tablets are inserted into the vagina during the evening causing the uterus to go into labor by morning. One advantage to this method is that the mother is free to move around the labor room.

2. Artificial rupture of the membranes (AROM)

A sterile, plastic, thin hook is brushed against the membranes just inside the cervix causing the baby’s head to move down against the cervix, which usually causes the contractions to become stronger. This procedure releases a gush of warm amniotic fluid from the vagina.

What are the advantages of artificial rupture of the membranes?

The procedure allows the amniotic fluid to be examined for the presence of meconium, which may be a sign of fetal distress.