Induction of labour
Artificially starting labour towards the end of pregnancy is called an induction or an induction of labour.
You might be offered an induction to avoid your pregnancy going on past 42 weeks. A prolonged pregnancy increases the likelihood that the baby could become unwell or, sadly, die. For some women, the placenta can’t always support the baby healthily at this later stage of pregnancy. Because we don’t always know which babies are at risk, all women in the UK are offered induction after 41 weeks of pregnancy.
You should also be offered an induction if your waters have broken and your labour doesn’t start on its own. In the UK, induction of labour is usually offered after 41 weeks where a pregnancy is uncomplicated and there are no other risk factors.
Older women and those with some medical conditions (such as gestational diabetes or raised blood pressure), may be offered induction before 41 weeks.
If you are offered an induction of labour, ask about:
- Why induction is being recommended
- The timing of the induction and the reasons for this
- The different stages in the induction process and where they will take place (for example on the antenatal ward, a midwife led unit or the obstetric unit)
- How labour will be started
- How labour is likely to be different from labour that starts naturally
- Whether you will have to stay in hospital
- Pain relief
- What will happen if labour doesn’t start or you choose not to have the induction
The Royal college of midwives have published information for woman and families about the induction of labour.
The NHS has produced a helpful webpage with information about the induction of labour and what you can expect
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced guidance for inductions in the NHS