The percentage of labor inductions are on the rise today. Yet many expectant mothers are not informed about all of the details that go along with having your labor induced. Do you know all you need to know about an induction of labor?
A Cervical Ripening Agent May be Used if Your Cervix is Not Ripe
Care providers may recommend that a cervical ripening agent, such as prostaglandin gel, be used the day before your scheduled induction. Cervical ripening agents can help to soften and thin out the mother's cervix prior to being induced to make it more likely that an induction of labor will be successful. In some cases, the mother will be monitored for a few hours after receiving the cervical ripening agent and then sent home. In other situations, the care provider may recommend the mother remain at the hospital overnight to be monitored after the cervical ripening agent is used.
An Induction Requires Not Being Able to Eat or Drink Prior to Your Arrival at the Hospital
While policies vary, it is common to have your eating and drinking privileges restricted the morning of your induction of labor. You care provider may recommend that you eat a light breakfast, have clear fluids or eat nothing at all. Once you are at the hospital, policies on eating and drinking also vary widely. Certain hospitals may allow clear fluids and others may limit your intake of fluids to ice chips only with your primary fluids through an IV. It is good to find out prior to scheduling your labor induction what the hospital protocol is with regard to being able to eat lightly or drink clear fluids once you are admitted.
Being Induced Requires Continuous External Monitoring
Since the care provider and labor nurse will need to be watching to make sure the baby is handling the labor induction well, mothers who are being induced will need to have continuous monitoring. This ultrasound device is held in place by a belt and attaches to a display unit at the side of the bed. If your hospital has a wireless monitor, known as telemetry, you may be able to take advantage of moving about while you are being induced and still have your baby and contractions monitored at the same time.
Pitocin Will be Added to Your IV Fluids in Increasing Amounts to Induce Labor Contractions
After you are admitted and settled into your hospital room, the labor nurse will start an IV. The synthetic hormone, pitocin, is added to the fluids, which is hooked up to a pump. The pump allows the nurse to increase the dosage of pitocin about every 15 minutes until labor contractions are coming regularly. At the point where contractions are coming about every three to five minutes, the nurse will typically stop increasing dosages of pitocin and keep the dosage of pitocin at the same level.
It is always a great idea to talk to your care provider and take a hospital tour prior to inducing labor to make sure you are fully prepared for all of the procedures that go hand-in-hand with being induced. It is crucial that you know what to expect before you agree to an induction of labor in the hospital.
References:
Lane, B., Kirsch, I. Knack Pregnancy Guide, Globe Pequot Press, 2008.
Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
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