Inducing labour
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Is induction of labour right for me and my baby?
Whether an induction is the right choice for you and your baby will depend on your individual situation. Your midwife or doctor should help you decide. -
What happens during induction of labour?
There are different ways to induce labour (start labour artificially). Your doctor or midwife should explain your options and ask for consent at every stage. -
Talking to your midwife or doctor about induction
Support to help you have useful conversations about induction with your doctor or midwife, and what to do if they are not listening to you. -
Making decisions in pregnancy – risks, benefits, consent and your rights
Making decisions about your pregnancy can sometimes be difficult. You have to think about different risks and benefits and decide what's best for you and baby. -
Speaking up for your partner and supporting their decisions during labour
Part of the role of birth partner is making sure the women or birthing person's needs and wishes are heard by their midwives and doctors. -
My 2nd induction was so much better because it didn’t feel rushed
Syama Minien, 38, lost her first daughter, Blue when she was just 5-days-old. She had planned inductions with her next 2 pregnancies. -
I’d not wanted to be induced, but at least I felt like I’d been heard
Shivaunne Booth, 41, felt pressured into induction with her 3rd son until a midwife listened to her concerns and explained the process.
What is induction of labour?
Most women and birthing people go into labour by themselves, but in some cases a doctor or midwife may take steps to bring labour on. This is called induction of labour.
You may be offered an induction because you have asked for one, or because your doctor thinks it’s the right thing for you. Sometimes it is hospital policy to offer an induction to everyone in certain situations, including if:
• you are ‘overdue’ (you are a week or more past your 40 weeks due date)
• your waters break early
• you or your baby have a health problem.
Read about other reasons for induction of labour here.
It is sometimes the case that your baby is safer being born rather than staying in your womb, and there’s a medical reason for that happening soon.
Some women and birthing people say they were ‘told’ they were having an induction, rather than being offered one. This is wrong. It is your decision. You should always be given the information you need to make a choice that feels right for you and your baby, based on your own situation. Read about making decisions in pregnancy here.
Ways of inducing labour
There are lots of ways to induce labour. Doctors will usually suggest doing a membrane sweep (sometimes called a ‘stretch and sweep’ or ‘cervical sweep’). Your doctor or midwife will gently insert their gloved finger into the vagina and sweep around the neck of your womb (the cervix).
A membrane sweep might bring on labour without needing a medical induction.
If a membrane sweep doesn’t work, a medical induction may be offered. Types include a balloon catheter, a cervical rod, and synthetic hormones. You can learn more about these types of induction here.
Some risks are linked to specific ways of inducing labour. General risks include:
• the induction not working, and in some cases a c-section being needed
• labour being more painful because of induction
• being more likely to have an assisted birth, where doctors use instruments to deliver a baby. This It can increase your risk of a perineal tear (a tear of the skin/ muscle between your vaginal opening and your anus.)
Read more about induction of labour and risks involved here.
You may have heard about ways to bring on labour yourself at home. These mostly haven’t been proven by research so aren’t recommended by health care experts. Some of them are safe to try though, if you’d like to. You can read about safe ways to try to induce labour here.
If you have questions about induction of labour, you can speak to our midwives on 0800 014 7800 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or email us at [email protected].
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2021. Inducing Labour. Nice guideline NG207. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng207/chapter/Recommendations. Accessed 1 November 2024.
NHS, 2023. Inducing Labour. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/inducing-labour/. Page last reviewed 15 March 2023. Next review due 15 March 2026. Accessed 1 November 2024.
Khan H, Buaki-Sogo MA, et al. (2023). Efficacy of pharmacological and mechanical cervical priming methods for induction of labour and their applicability for outpatient management: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 287:80–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.05.037
Grobman WA, Rice MM, et al. (2018). Labor Induction versus Expectant Management in Low-Risk Nulliparous Women. New England Journal of Medicine. 379(6):513–23. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1800566
Norgine Pharmaceuticals provided a Grant to support the development of this material. Norgine had no editorial control or scientific input into this material.