INDUCTION OF LABOUR
Sometimes it is necessary to help a woman to start her labour using artificial methods.
This is called induction of labour.
What is an induction of labour? What happens on the day of the induction?
In most pregnancies, labour starts naturally between A decision may be made to change your method of
37 and 42 weeks, leading to the birth of a baby. Labour induction on the day of your induction. After a vaginal
is ‘induced’ when doctors and midwives encourage the examination, changes to your cervix may mean that
process of labour to start artificially. another method of induction is more appropriate. Your
doctor or midwife will discuss this with you.
Why is induction recommended?
How long will it take?
The most common reasons for induction of labour are
Once the induction has started, you will be monitored
the:
regularly. You can walk around but you must not leave
• pregnancy has gone longer than 41 weeks the hospital. Your cervix is assessed regularly to check
• waters have broken but the contractions of labour its progress. Induction is not a quick process. Once it
have not started naturally has started, it may take more than 24 hours until your
• baby is not well or is not growing well baby is born. If your cervix needs to be primed, it may
• mother has specific health issues. take two days or more.
Are there any risks? Can you change your mind after induction has
There are risks associated with induction. Some women started?
do not want to be induced and will choose to ‘wait and Once induction has commenced, it is expected to
see’ whether natural labour will start. continue until your baby is born. We do not
recommend stopping the induction process.
There are also risks associated with continuing your
pregnancy when an induction has been recommended.
Will it be more painful than natural labour?
Before you make a decision, your doctor or midwife will Every labour is different. For some women an induced
explain the risks of having or not having an induction. labour is more painfulthan a labour that starts on its own,
however this is not true for all women. Epidurals are
How is labour induced? usually available if needed.
There are four different ways that labour is induced:
Will it work?
• prostaglandin
Sometimes induction does not work and you may not
• a balloon catheter
go into labour. If this happens and all safe options have
• artificially breaking the waters
been tried, you may need a caesarean.
• oxytocin.
Most women need a mixture of these before they have
their baby.
Watch our short video about induction of labour at
https://www.thewomens.org.au/hi-iol
INDUCTION OF LABOUR – AUGUST 2018 PAGE 1 OF 3
Sometimes it is necessary to help a woman to start her labour using artificial methods.
This is called induction of labour.
What is an induction of labour? What happens on the day of the induction?
In most pregnancies, labour starts naturally between A decision may be made to change your method of
37 and 42 weeks, leading to the birth of a baby. Labour induction on the day of your induction. After a vaginal
is ‘induced’ when doctors and midwives encourage the examination, changes to your cervix may mean that
process of labour to start artificially. another method of induction is more appropriate. Your
doctor or midwife will discuss this with you.
Why is induction recommended?
How long will it take?
The most common reasons for induction of labour are
Once the induction has started, you will be monitored
the:
regularly. You can walk around but you must not leave
• pregnancy has gone longer than 41 weeks the hospital. Your cervix is assessed regularly to check
• waters have broken but the contractions of labour its progress. Induction is not a quick process. Once it
have not started naturally has started, it may take more than 24 hours until your
• baby is not well or is not growing well baby is born. If your cervix needs to be primed, it may
• mother has specific health issues. take two days or more.
Are there any risks? Can you change your mind after induction has
There are risks associated with induction. Some women started?
do not want to be induced and will choose to ‘wait and Once induction has commenced, it is expected to
see’ whether natural labour will start. continue until your baby is born. We do not
recommend stopping the induction process.
There are also risks associated with continuing your
pregnancy when an induction has been recommended.
Will it be more painful than natural labour?
Before you make a decision, your doctor or midwife will Every labour is different. For some women an induced
explain the risks of having or not having an induction. labour is more painfulthan a labour that starts on its own,
however this is not true for all women. Epidurals are
How is labour induced? usually available if needed.
There are four different ways that labour is induced:
Will it work?
• prostaglandin
Sometimes induction does not work and you may not
• a balloon catheter
go into labour. If this happens and all safe options have
• artificially breaking the waters
been tried, you may need a caesarean.
• oxytocin.
Most women need a mixture of these before they have
their baby.
Watch our short video about induction of labour at
https://www.thewomens.org.au/hi-iol
INDUCTION OF LABOUR – AUGUST 2018 PAGE 1 OF 3
