How long do inductions take

If you're pregnant, understanding why and how labor induction is done can help you prepare. To determine if labor induction is necessary, your health care provider will evaluate several factors, including your health, your baby's health, your baby's gestational age, weight and size, your baby's position in the uterus, and the status of your cervix. Reasons for labor induction include:.

Elective labor induction is the initiation of labor for convenience in a person with a term pregnancy who doesn't medically need the intervention.

Elective labor inductions might be appropriate in some instances. For example, if you live far from the hospital or birthing center or you have a history of rapid deliveries, a scheduled induction might help you avoid an unattended delivery. In such cases, your health care provider will confirm that your baby's gestational age is at least 39 weeks or older before induction to reduce the risk of health problems for your baby. A C-section includes an abdominal incision and a uterine incision.

After the abdominal incision, the doctor will make an incision in your uterus. Low transverse incisions are the most common top left. If you've had a prior C-section and have labor induced, your health care provider will avoid certain medications to reduce the risk of uterine rupture.

Labor induction is done in a hospital or birthing center, where you and your baby can be monitored and labor and delivery services are readily available. However, some steps might be taken prior to admission. There are various methods for inducing labor.

Depending on the circumstances, your health care provider might:. Keep in mind that your health care provider might also use a combination of these methods to induce labor. How long it takes for labor to start depends on how ripe your cervix is when your induction starts, the induction techniques used and how your body responds to them. If your cervix needs time to ripen, it might take days before labor begins. If you simply need a little push, you might be holding your baby in your arms in a matter of hours.

In most cases, labor induction leads to a successful vaginal birth. If labor induction fails, you might need to try another induction or have a C-section. If you have a successful vaginal delivery after induction, there might be no implications for future pregnancies. If the induction leads to a C-section, your health care provider can help you decide whether to attempt a vaginal delivery with a subsequent pregnancy or to schedule a repeat C-section.

If you are not having contractions after 24 hours, you may be offered another dose. Sometimes a hormone drip is needed to speed up the labour. Once labour starts, it should proceed normally, but it can sometimes take 24 to 48 hours to get you into labour. Induced labour is usually more painful than labour that starts on its own, and you may want to ask for an epidural. Your pain relief options during labour are not restricted by being induced. You should have access to all the pain relief options usually available in the maternity unit.

If you are induced you'll be more likely to have an assisted delivery, where forceps or ventouse suction are used to help the baby out. Your obstetrician and midwife will assess your condition and your baby's wellbeing, and you may be offered another induction or a caesarean section. You may have heard that certain things can trigger labour, such as herbal supplements and having sex, but there's no evidence that these work.

Other methods that are not supported by scientific evidence include acupuncture , homeopathy , hot baths, castor oil and enemas. Having sex will not cause harm, but you should avoid having sex if your waters have broken as there's an increased risk of infection.

For more information on induction, you can read the NICE information for the public on induction of labour. You can find pregnancy and baby apps and tools in the NHS apps library. Page last reviewed: 12 November Next review due: 12 November Inducing labour. It's your choice whether to have your labour induced or not. Why you might be induced if you're overdue if your waters have broken if you or your baby have a health problem If you're overdue Induction will be offered if you do not go into labour naturally by 42 weeks, as there will be a higher risk of stillbirth or problems for the baby.

If your waters break early If your waters break more than 24 hours before labour starts, there's an increased risk of infection to you and your baby. If you have a health condition or your baby is not thriving You may be offered an induction if you have a condition that means it'll be safer to have your baby sooner, such as diabetes , high blood pressure or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Membrane sweep Before inducing labour, you'll be offered a membrane sweep, also known as a cervical sweep, to bring on labour.

Once at the hospital, communicate your feelings as best as possible, and then tell them to go find you some ice cream for after. It will be okay! Talk with friends and family members who have had induced labors and at some point, and try to stop googling.

Labor induction is a procedure in which your doctor uses methods to help you go into labor. There are some natural ways to induce labor. If your due date is here, read this and talk to your doctor about what's right for you. Your Bishop score can provide clues about how close you are to active labor and whether induction is the right choice for you. Are you pregnant and past your due date? Help induce labor naturally by pressing on these acupressure points along the body.

If you go past your due date, your doctor may recommend a Foley bulb induction. A new study finds that epidurals do not affect child development in their later years. A fetal arrhythmia is an irregular heart rate — too fast, too slow, or otherwise outside the norm. It's often benign.

Postpartum diarrhea after a C-section is normal. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Why induction? Methods of induction How long does it take? Risks How to prepare for labor induction Takeaway Share on Pinterest. Why is labor induced? Methods of labor induction. How long does labor induction take?