Here's what they found: About 17 percent of women who had labor induced ending up having a C-section delivery, while 20 percent of women in the wait-and-see group ended up delivering via C-section.
In fact, results from the general Michigan sample were contradictory to the ARRIVE trial: People who underwent elective induction were more likely to have a cesarean birth compared with those who underwent expectant management (30% versus 24%.)
As it turns out, that deeply-held idea was not based on sound science. And a few new studies have found that, in fact, inducing healthy women at 39 weeks isn't necessarily associated with an increased risk of C-sections, and could be associated with some advantages, too.
The Hannah trial found that 21.2% of women who were in the induction group and 24.5% in the expectant management group had a caesarean .
In most cases, labor induction leads to a vaginal birth. A failed induction, one in which the procedure doesn't lead to a vaginal birth, might require another induction or a C-section.
Your provider may recommend inducing labor if your health or your baby's health is at risk or if you're 2 weeks or more past your due date. For some women, inducing labor is the best way to keep mom and baby healthy. Inducing labor should be for medical reasons only.
Your cervix is assessed regularly to check its progress. Induction is not a quick process. Once it has started, it may take more than 24 hours until your baby is born. If your cervix needs to be primed, it may take two days or more.
Induction keeps the baby from getting any bigger, which lowers the risk of Cesarean. Elective Cesareans for big baby are only beneficial; that is, they don't have major risks that could outweigh the benefits.
In addition, it is not an all-or-none choice: the option is not to have elective induction of labor at 39 weeks or refuse elective induction of labor completely. A woman may choose not to be induced at 39 weeks, but may change her mind at 40 weeks.
It is well established that labor has to be induced in approximately 20 % of pregnancies [1]. However, induction fails in 20 % of induced pregnancies [2].
Babies are “due” after 40 weeks of gestation, but evidence suggests that infant mortality and complications are lowest for those delivered at 39 weeks, when a fetus is considered full term. Some obstetricians have recommended inducing labor at 39 weeks to reduce the risk of complications.
A study published in BMJ suggests that inducing labor at no later than 41 weeks could be one of the few interventions that reduce stillbirths. A nationwide study by Swedish researchers suggests that inducing labor at no later than 41 weeks could be one of the few interventions that reduce stillbirths.
Induced labour is usually more painful than labour that starts on its own, and you may want to ask for an epidural. Your pain relief options during labour are not restricted by being induced. You should have access to all the pain relief options usually available in the maternity unit.
It's painful
Oxytocin-induced contractions can also be very strong, and there is often less time to get used to these than when labour starts spontaneously. In addition, the increased number of vaginal examinations and other interventions (such as the insertion of cannulas) can create additional pain or discomfort.
What are the risks of labor induction? With some induction methods, the uterus can be overstimulated, causing it to contract too often. Too many contractions may lead to changes in the fetal heart rate. Other risks of cervical ripening and labor induction can include infection in the woman or her fetus.
Your doctor does not have to induce your labor early if you're carrying a large baby. Early induction of labor doesn't necessarily prevent complications or birth injuries.
WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish woman lay nearly upside down in labor for 75 days to save the lives of her two premature babies after the first of three fetuses growing inside her was born prematurely and died.
Take a long, Epsom salt bath to relax. If you're into pedicures, go get a pedicure or do an at-home manicure. Go get one last (or your first) prenatal massage. Eat your all-time favorite meal and savor the quiet.
In human and animal studies spontaneous onset of labour is proven to have a circadian rhythm with a preference for start of labour in the evening. Moreover, when spontaneous labour starts in the evening, the total duration of labour and delivery shortens and fewer obstetric interventions are needed.
If you have been offered an induction of labour for a specific reason, but you do not want this, you can choose to wait for natural labour or plan a caesarean birth instead. Speak with your healthcare professional as early as possible to discuss your options.
Risks of Induction
Pitocin causes contractions that both peak and become stronger more quickly than naturally occurring contractions. The result is a labor that is more difficult to manage. In addition, the uterine muscle never totally relaxes between contractions, increasing stress on both the uterus and the baby.
The risk of a failed induction and the subsequent risk of c-section are for the most part tied to the degree to which the patient's cervix is ready for labor, or “Ripe” as it is sometimes said. That is, when the cervix is “Ripe,” induction of labor is much more likely to be successful.