How do doctors induce labor?

Question

I'm 38 weeks

Answer 1

There's a few ways:
- stripping membranes (can be very painful)
- prostaglendin gel or strip placed on cervix (I had this done)
- breaking waters (usually done to augment labour, not to start it because they won't let you go longer than 24 hours with your water broken before you have the baby so they will try to give you a C-section)
- Pitocin IV

Yourself, you can try nipple stimulation (google it) or having sex (his fluids contain prostaglandin which may help start labour). DO NOT take castor oil, not only will it give you diarrhoea, it can also do that to the baby and make it have meconium (poo in the amniotic fluid) which is dangerous because they could breath it into their lungs.

Any method of inducing labour can cause a harder than normal labour and lead to more interventions.

Answer 2

Doctors are very fond of inductions right now because it allows them to plan. There are a couple of different ways they induce.

1. They will put either cytotec or cervidil in your vagina to ripen your cervix and then hours later, they will start pitocin and break your water.

2. They will break your water and start you on pitocin.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

a. Just like with home remedies, these things will not work if your body isn't ready. If your cervix is not soft and opening, these will fail.

b. You can tell them not to break your water. This is totally acceptable. This does two things for you: It helps with the pain because it is more painful after your water is broken artificially. Also, if your water is not broken and the induction is not working, you can go home and try again another day. If they have broken your water, you are headed for a C-section if the induction doesn't work. Additionally, it is much harder on your baby if they break your water and you are FAR more likely to have problems with the baby's heartbeat if the water is broken. Breaking your water only actually speeds things up at the end anyway. They tell you it will speed things up at the beginning, but if your cervix isn't open quite a bit, this isn't true.

c. Cytotec is not approved for induction by the FDA. The manufacturer specifically cautions against using it for induction of labor. It can be dangerous. Make sure you get the facts.

d. Pitocin is painful. If you are trying to go natural, you are far more likely to need pain medication when they start you on a medication like pitocin.

Read up and inform yourself with something like the "Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth book." There is information out there. Check it out.

Answer 3

The doctor will give you a drug called pitocin through iv. Depending on the person depends on things happen from there. Some women go into labor and their water breaks naturally. My personal experience was after having the pitocin in me a few hours, they broke my water. A few hours after that I had my daughter. It all depends. There are lots of websites you can google for answers, or you can talk to your doctor.

Answer 4

There are several ways to induce labor. Toward the end of pregnancy, the cervix (the opening to the uterus, or womb) gets soft. It may even open up a little. Your doctor will check to see if your cervix is getting soft and opening up. If it isn't, your doctor may put a medicine in your vagina near the cervix. The medicine helps your cervix get soft and open up.

Your doctor may also "break your water" or use a finger to separate your cervix from the membranes (tissues) around your baby's head. This often makes labor start.

Your doctor will watch you closely. When you're ready, your doctor will start giving you a medicine called oxytocin (one brand name: Pitocin). Oxytocin will start your contractions and help them to get strong and regular.

Answer 5

There are several methods. One is to give pitocin that should start contractions. Another is to soften the cervix with something that I can't remember what it is called. Another method is to break a woman's water.

Answer 6

Cervadil is the drug they use to soften your cervix. It has the same side effects as pitocin. I don't recommend it. YOu can soften your cervix naturally using evening primrose oil. Let nature take its course, unless you have complications that warrant induction.

Answer 7

I was induced and as well as I can remember all they did was hook me up to an IV that had petocin in it. That was almost 20 yrs. ago.

Answer 8

They give you pitocin and break your water.

Answer 9

They break your water and hook you up to a drug called petocin. I don't recommend it unless medically necessary.

Answer 10

break your water and/or give you pitocin. I got pitocin.