When an Induction Becomes Medically Necessary

From December, 2007 Newsletter

Written by Carol Peterson, ICCE, CD(DONA)

In this article, the last of a three part series on induction, we will discuss how to increase the chances of your induction being a success.  If you find yourself in a situation where an induction is being recommended for medical reasons, don’t panic!  Use the following tips to help your birth be a positive experience:

Be confident.  Remember that your body knows how to birth.  Picture your cervix opening, and your baby rotating and moving through your birth canal. 

Accept your labor for what it is.  An induction may not be what you had in mind, but in the case of a medically-indicated induction, accepting the induction will go a long way towards making your experience positive.  Being bitter will only create negative energy during your birth.

Be positive.  Many inductions result in beautiful births.  Being aware of the drawbacks will prepare you, but with a positive attitude, and working with your labor, you may find your birth experience to be incredibly fulfilling!

If labor induction is for non-emergency medical reasons, such as being past due, discuss alternative ways of inducing labor with your health care provider. Alternate ways may include acupuncture, nipple stimulation, “sweeping the membranes”, sexual intercourse or castor oil.  Each of these options carries its own benefits and risks, so be sure to evaluate those as well.  Should you want to try one of these methods, ask “Is there a reason why I can’t try it?” versus “Do you think I should try it?”[1] 

Know the status of your cervix before being induced.  Ask your caregiver for your Bishop’s score, which takes into account the position, consistency, dilation and effacement of the cervix, as well as the position of the baby.  A Bishop’s score of 9 or higher in a first time mom is suggested as an indicator that the induction will be successful.  (Click here to determine your Bishop’s score).  If your cervix is not favorable and an induction is pending, ask about using a cervical ripening agent to prepare your cervix for the use of Pitocin.  Many have found that sex and evening primrose oil, taken orally or applied directly to the cervix, soften the cervix, so be sure to ask your caregiver about these options as well. 

With an induction, your caregiver will normally ask that you be continuously monitored.  If your hospital uses a wireless telemetry monitor, ask to use it.  A wireless monitor will allow you the freedom to move at will and use a full range of comfort measures, including walking, showering, or using a tub.

If your hospital does not have wireless monitors, do not just lie there!  Listen to your body to find the position that makes you the most comfortable.  Sit on a birth ball, stand and sway, use a hands and knees position on the bed, and if you need to rest, recline on your side, switching sides frequently.  Also, make sure that you use the bathroom once an hour.  This will give you a chance to walk and change positions, albeit briefly.

Make sure you’ve got continuous labor support, or use a doula.  Chances are your husband or boyfriend has never seen a birth, let alone an induction.  Using a doula to help with your labor is always of benefit, and even more so during an induction when labor becomes more medical. 

The bottom line is to be as educated and informed as possible about your options, including induction.  By being educated, you can make truly informed decisions regarding your care, which will help you to have the best experience possible, even if an induction becomes necessary.

[1] “How to Avoid an Induction”, www.lamaze.com