Let us first understand the term ‘induce labor’. If you are well past your delivery date and undergo false labor with no signs of natural labor, then you stand at a risk to both your self and your baby. At this point, your doctor can use some techniques to induce or start up your labor.

Reasons Behind The Need To Induce Labor:

• If your water bag has already burst and still you do not show any beginning of natural labor.

• You are way past- say 2 weeks or so to your due date.

• If any tests show that your baby is not growing.

• If you seem to have very little amniotic fluid.

• In case you have medical problems like diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

• If you already have had a case of a stillborn full term birth.

Risks Involved

Let us now take a look at the risks that may present when you decide to induce labor.

• At times, the induction fails and you would then have to go in for a c-section.

• The process of induction is quite long-24-48 hours.

• If after such a trial, you still have to go for caesarean, it puts a heavy psychological toll on you and your partner.

• A c-sec after induction has more chances of infection and risks to baby and mother.

• A much longer hospital stay and higher rates of complications.

• In rare cases, the induction techniques can cause longer or abnormal contractions that stress the baby.

• In some cases, the medication may cause placental abruption or uterine ruptures.

• During your stay in the hospital, you will have to undergo constant electronic monitoring to ascertain your contractions and the baby’s condition. So you may have to sit or lie still during the whole period.

Some techniques are touted to aid labor but they haven’t proven to be either safe or effective. They are:

• Stimulation of your nipples might release your body’s natural oxytocin. However, it may also lead to prolonged contractions that will stress your baby.

• Having sex - Semen contains prostaglandin and your orgasm may stimulate contractions but again that does not induce labor.

• Taking strong laxatives like castor oil but that has also not proven effective in aiding in labor.

• Any herbal medication as that might contain harmful ingredients that could affect you and the baby.

Many other situations might arise also when you will not have the need to induce labor and will have to get a c-sec immediately.