Whenever possible, it’s best for both mother and baby if labor happens naturally. However, there are circumstances which may require an induction to get labor going. Basically, when the risk of going on with the pregnancy outweighs the benefits of delivering the baby sooner, induction will be needed. Sometimes it’s riskier to wait than to induce labor sooner.
One reason labor may need to be induced is going too far past your due date. This can put the baby at a higher risk of complications. The placenta can cease to function properly and this can put the baby in danger. In addition, the further you go past your due date, the higher the risk of needing a c section. Other problems with post term babies include needing more interventions at the time of birth, such as forceps or vacuum extraction.
Certain complications of pregnancy may result in an induction. The most common include high blood pressure, pre eclampsia or diabetes. These conditions can endanger the health of the mother, baby or both. In some cases, it’s safer to deliver the baby than to take the wait and see approach.
Problems with the level of amniotic fluid can result in the need to be induced. Low levels of fluid are dangerous for the baby. He or she may stop growing or become distressed. If the fluid level is dangerously low, it’s better for the baby to be born now, rather than to wait and take a chance something could go wrong.
If your water breaks and you don’t go into labor, the doctor may make the decision to intervene. How long you can wait depends on the philosophy of your doctor or midwife. Most doctors want you to go into labor within twenty four hours; some will let you go forty eight hours past the time the water has broken.
Concern for the fetus is another reason some women are induced. If there is a decrease in the amount of movement or irregularities with the heart rate, you may need to be induced. In cases such as this, it’s better to get the baby delivered sooner than to wait for labor to begin naturally.
A large baby can be another reason for inducing labor. This is sometimes due to another underlying issue, such as gestational diabetes or a pregnancy gone past the due date. Others are just large as a result of genetics. A large baby is at greater risk of a c section and your doctor may decide to induce in an attempt to avoid this.