The Induction Discussion

So many of us hear this fancy “induction” word. What does induction entail? Well, in normal pregnancy conditions, the baby sends signals to the mother’s body that he or she is ready to greet the world. In extremely non-scientific terms, this starts the labor process. Induction is a term that encompasses various interventions that can be used to start the labor process before the baby sends those signals.

Induction is usually used in situations when it would be dangerous for either the baby or the mother for the pregnancy to keep going. It’s also, unfortunately, used in situations where it’s perfectly fine for the pregnancy to keep going. That’s why it’s important to make sure you understand the benefits and risks behind your doctor’s reasons for wanting to induce you.

Why Does it Matter?

What’s the difference between inducing and letting your labor start on its own? Is there enough of a difference to annoy your doctor by asking about the benefits and risks? Definitely! There’s a huge difference for both you and baby between a labor that starts naturally and an induced labor.

The Hard Way to Labor

Induced labor is kind of like doing labor the hard way. With Pitocin, you’ll have a super tough labor. In normal labor, your contractions start out pretty slowly and relatively easily with long breaks in between, and then they gradually get harder. Transition is the hardest time with the most intense contractions and the shortest breaks in between. Fortunately, it doesn’t last very long and soon you’re pushing! With induction, your contractions are much more intense than normal labor contractions. They may come at you hard and fast immediately, and your uterus has little or no relaxing time in between. So it’s basically like being in transition from the very start of your labor and staying that way for many hours.

Sign up for pain meds

Because of this super tough labor, most women will need pain medications. Induced contractions are so much harder than normal contractions and most women can’t put up with them. Epidurals are one of the most popular options, but they have their own set of risks. Even if you were already planning to get an epidural, you would likely need it much earlier in labor than if your labor started naturally.

What’s induction like for baby?

Unfortunately, these hard and fast labor contractions can also affect your baby. When your uterus contracts, the blood flow and oxygen to your baby is diminished. Since your uterus has little or no relaxing time with induced contractions, your baby is constantly experiencing this reduced blood and oxygen flow. Babies are therefore more likely to be distressed during labor, which can lead to a Cesarean section. If you’re still able to deliver vaginally, your baby is more likely to need forceps or vacuum extraction.

So what should you do?

Definitely have a discussion with your doctor. Some women have to be induced because of medical reasons, in which case the benefits of keeping you and your baby safe absolutely outweigh the risks of induction. But if your doctor is suggesting induction without a true medical reason for doing so or if the benefits don’t seem to outweigh the risks, you can always delay the induction decision and see if labor will naturally start on its own.