Labor inductions have become quite common today. In fact, a 2006 survey from Childbirth Connection showed that 50% of the new mothers participating in the survey had their labors induced, with about one third of them reporting no medical reason for the induction. However, new information shows that scheduling an induction without a medical reason definitely has more drawbacks than advantages.
Moms May Want to Induce Labor to Choose Physician
A new study published in the February 2011 issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine performed at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY calls into the question the benefit of scheduling deliveries. Authors of the study say that elective inductions today have become a routine practice for many obstetricians and that physicians and women alike tend to think of inducing labor as "harmless."
Many women today also seem to want inductions for reasons of convenience as well as the ability to choose the doctor they prefer, authors explain. However, when data from hundreds of inductions were complied, researchers showed that routine inductions for first-time mothers are anything but harmless.
Research Shows that Inducing Labor Increases Risk to Mother
The new study proves that scheduling labor inductions increases risk to the mother in several ways. Results showed out of the 485 first-time mothers who scheduled an induction, 34% ended up having a cesarean. Only 20% of the women who went into spontaneous labor had cesareans.
As a result, the increased risk of cesarean raises the mother's risk of infection, respiratory complications, the need for additional surgeries and longer hospitals stays. Researchers also discovered that even after taking the increased risk of cesarean into account, inducing labor also increases blood loss to the mother.
Babies Also at Greater Risk from Labor Inductions
Results showed that babies suffered as a result of their mother's induction as well. Babies whose mothers were induced were more likely to need oxygen after deliver than babies whose mothers were not. Inductions also increased a baby's need to have additional care from NICU medical providers.
Eva Pressman, M.D., Director of Fetal Medicine at the Rochester Medical Center says that changing the perception of routine inductions for both women and physicians may be an uphill battle, but a necessary one.
"Counseling women to steer clear of an elective induction can be challenging, but the bottom line is that medical reasons trump social reasons. If physicians are armed with information about the risks associated with elective induction they have a better chance of convincing their patients to avoid this route,” Pressman urges.
Having necessary support for the challenges of late pregnancy, knowing the risks that go along with inducing labor and being sure that there is a medical reason before agreeing to an induction are all necessary steps that each expectant mother should take before she is induced.
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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