The Different Ways of Labor Induction

What is Labor Induction?

When your labor does not begins on its own then your doctor will make use of few things to induce the labor. These may be medicines or some techniques which would be discussed here.

However it is not necessary that any one of the following may induce the labor so the doctor may try one or even more methods which are as under:

1. Breaking the Water Bag

Usually at the time of labor the water bag bursts itself but if it does not burst it is done manually by the doctor by inserting a crochet hook. This method is considered to be one of the safest as there are no chemicals used in this process and easily brings the labor.

• Disadvantage of this method:

However some doctors think that this method is not safe because if the water bag is raptured and natural pains didn’t comes up, the birthing process will not be able to reverse and the doctor may require performing an emergency operation; also known as C-section.

2. Pitocin

Pitocin is the synthetic form of hormone oxytocin which helps in beginning the contractions in uterus. Some doctors consider this to be a safer method of inducing contractions as the dosage is administered with the help of IV drip and can be stopped if required.

Sometimes this method is used with the above method which cannot reverse the birthing but if it is used alone, this process can be stopped and the pregnant woman can even go home.

• Disadvantage of this method:

Some doctors also believe that this method becomes the reason of fetal distress in some women as well as it may create some other complications as well.

3. Prostaglandin

Prostaglandin is also a hormone which is responsible for ripening or opening the cervix. There are prostaglandin gels and suppositories which are used when the cervix does not seem to ripen on its own. It is also used before injecting the Pitocin drip. This is quite a quick method of inducing labor in the women who are not naturally having the labor.

• Disadvantage of this method:

Some women have claimed to gone under headaches as well nausea with the prostaglandin.

4. Misoprostol

Misoprostol is a pill that is taken orally as well it is placed in the mouth of the uterus which helps in cervix dilate and inducing the labor.

Doctors believe this method to be quite effective as well and it also does not bound the woman to have the delivery at that time.

• Disadvantage of this method:

It is not a disadvantage rather a suggestion for the women not to go for this method if they want a vaginal delivery or having delivery after C-section. The disadvantage is that it may speed up the labor very quickly.