Inducing a labor is quickly becoming the norm in today’s society. Women sometimes choose to induce their pregnancy for many reasons; impatience to see their child or have the pregnancy over, to plan around a scheduled event, when a doctor is available, to have their baby born on a specific date, or to have the baby when family can be there, these are a few reasons women induce labor. But there are only a few medical reasons why a Doctor could suggest to induce labor. It is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) that a pregnancy not be induced before 39 weeks of gestation. A pregnancy will usually last 40 weeks. This can be a very long time if it has been a difficult pregnancy. If a pregnancy goes into its 42nd week then the doctor will usually induce the pregnancy. After 42 weeks the placenta starts to deteriorate.
There are some medical reasons that a pregnancy would be induced. Some complications that would necessitate an inducement would be hypertension and preeclampsia, both these cause headaches, high blood pressure and excessive fluid retention, placing the welfare of the mother and child at risk. Gestational diabetes along with heart disease and bleeding would cause the need for inducing labor. Some other reasons would be uterine infection, your baby may be distressed or your water has broken and you haven’t started labor in 48 hours. Your doctor will be able to inform you more in depth if you suspect any of these complications.
How a labor is induced
The process of inducing labor is to administer one or both hormones called oxytocin and/or prostaglandin; these stimulate contractions in the uterus. There are non-medicinal treatments which include artificial rupture of the membranes and stripping the membranes. Even after this is done some women still take several days to reach full labor. Both of these procedures have the risk of not working for some women. Inducing a labor either with the hormones or disrupting the membranes can send the body into contractions to quickly when it is not prepared for it. The cervix might not be ripened enough for delivery or the baby can’t make it down the birth canal. Your uterus can also tear because of the contractions that the hormones have caused. Another risk involved with inducing labor is that it can lead to a cesarean birth. Sometimes the inducement may not take effect at all and you will have to be admitted for a cesarean birth.
Another less intrusive and natural way to induce labor is through acupressure. Acupressure has been used for centuries to treat numerous conditions with the body. From pain relief, skin conditions, migraines and even colds, acupressure is a very versatile method of treatment. Anyone can use it without training. All you need to know is where the pressure points are that can be helpful to induce a labor. Maternity acupressure has no harmful side effects and can be more relaxing than the alternative of drugs. It also gives the mother and her partner an intimate way to bond while trying to start a labor.
