{"id":8763,"date":"2017-07-29T10:29:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-29T17:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/?p=8763\/"},"modified":"2019-07-16T16:13:31","modified_gmt":"2019-07-16T23:13:31","slug":"labor-induction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.avawomen.com\/avaworld\/labor-induction\/","title":{"rendered":"What You Need to Know About Labor Induction"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most of the time, a normal pregnancy lasts an average of 40 weeks<\/a>, and\u00a0labor begins on its own. But if your doctor has concerns about your health or the health of your baby, he or she may\u00a0recommend\u00a0induction<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Just saying that word “induction” can spark anxiety for pregnant women. You want your labor to proceed naturally, and just thinking about delivery on its own is stressful enough. But learning about the processes of labor induction<\/a>\u00a0can help you feel more calm and in control in the event that you need to be induced. If you have any questions, it’s always a good idea to speak with your OB<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What is labor induction?<\/h3>\n

Labor induction<\/a>\u00a0is the use of medications or other methods to bring on labor.<\/p>\n

What is the process of labor induction?<\/h3>\n

Labor induction is a two-step process. First, your cervix needs to be relaxed and dilated. If your cervix is not ready for labor your doctor has a few options to encourage your cervix to dilate:<\/p>\n

\"Labor<\/p>\n

The second part of the induction process is initiating contractions. The most common methods for this include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. IV drip with Pitocin\u00ae\/oxytocin<\/li>\n
  2. Breaking the water (a procedure performed by your healthcare provider)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Why do doctors recommend induction?<\/h3>\n

    Your doctor may recommend induction when the risks of waiting for labor to start on its own are higher than the risks of induction. For example:<\/p>\n