Should I Get My Labor Induced?

If you’re a pregnant mother approaching your due date, you likely have a lot of questions about when and how you’re going to give birth. And in certain scenarios, your healthcare provider might recommend induction. Induction of labor is the use of medication and/or other methods to start labor — rather than waiting for the process to start naturally. This is most often recommended when the mother or baby has a condition that puts them at risk for potential complications before or during labor. But some women without these conditions still opt for an elective induction. We’ll review what labor induction looks like, when and why it’s recommended, and some of the risks and benefits of the procedure.

What happens during labor induction? 

The goal of labor induction is to start the laboring process by stimulating uterine contractions. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus tighten and relax to help move the baby through the vaginal birth canal. There are a few different ways to induce labor.

Stripping or sweeping the membranes

Stripping or sweeping the membranes is when a healthcare provider separates the membrane that connects the amniotic sac to the uterus. When they check your cervix and see that the cervix is open enough, then they can “sweep” their finger around to separate the membrane. The separation encourages your body to release hormones (known as prostaglandins) that stimulate contractions.

Cervical ripening 

Cervical ripening helps your cervix soften and thin out to prepare for vaginal delivery. It can be done in two ways:

1) Prostaglandins: You can take these by mouth, or they can be applied directly into your vagina.

2) Foley catheter: A foley catheter is a thin tube with a balloon on the end. After a provider inserts the tube into your vagina, the balloon can be gently inflated in the cervix. This helps to separate the amniotic sac from the uterus, releasing prostaglandins that will help soften the cervix (similar to stripping the membranes).

Oxytocin

Oxytocin (Pitocin) is another hormone that helps initiate contractions. It can also help strengthen and speed up contractions if they have started naturally. It is given through an intravenous (IV) drip. Once the IV medication is started, your healthcare team will closely monitor the strength and frequency of the contractions as well as the baby’s heart rate.

Rupturing the amniotic sac

Rupturing the amniotic sac (amniotomy) is when your doctor uses a special tool to make a small hole in the amniotic sac. This mimics the process of “water breaking” that naturally happens in the labor process. Breaking your water may also cause a release of natural prostaglandins to help speed up the labor process.

Why do doctors recommend induction?

There are several conditions and circumstances when a provider may recommend labor induction. And this is typically if there is a concern about the health or safety of you or your baby. Your provider may recommend an induction of labor in one of these medical situations:

• You’re 2 weeks past your due date (more than 41 to 42 weeks into your pregnancy), and you haven’t gone into labor. After 41 to 42 weeks, the risk of complications is higher.

• Your placenta is separating from the wall of your uterus (placental abruption). 

• You have an infection in your uterus (chorioamnionitis).

• Your water broke, but you haven’t started having contractions (preterm rupture of membranes).

• Your amniotic fluid level is too low.

• Your baby is not growing how they should.

Your provider may also recommend labor induction if you have certain medical conditions such as:

• High blood pressure

• Gestational diabetes

• Kidney disease

• Lung disease

• Heart disease

In these scenarios, induction can help alleviate any strain on the mother or baby. And it can help avoid complications that become more likely toward the end of a pregnancy.

But even if you don’t have any of the above conditions, providers still sometimes offer induction for people who are pregnant for the first time. This is because research indicates that induction of labor at 39 weeks for women who are pregnant for the first time can reduce the likelihood of needing a C-section. In the study, women induced at 39 weeks were also less likely to develop preeclampsia, a life-threatening condition of high blood pressure that can affect women and their babies after 20 weeks of pregnancy. 

Why do some women prefer induction?

Even outside of a medical indication, many women talk to their provider about the possibility of an elective induction. There are several reasons why someone might prefer this option, including:

• It’s easier to plan.

• Knowing what to expect can decrease anxiety.

• Pregnancy can feel like it’s taking too long after 39 weeks, and it can be stressful for a number of different reasons.

If you expect to reach 39 weeks of pregnancy and are curious about elective induction, it’s important to discuss this with your provider. While there are potential benefits if you choose an elective induction, it’s also important to be aware of the possible risks.

What are the risks of getting induced?

If you’re a candidate for elective induction, it helps to know some of the risks. These include:

• Infection: Rupturing the membranes too early in the laboring process may increase the risk of infection for you and your baby.

• Fetal distress: Oxytocin or prostaglandins are supposed to increase contractions. But sometimes these contractions can be so strong that they affect the blood flow to the baby. And this can be dangerous for the baby. This is why you’re closely monitored once these medications are started.

• Delivery of a near-term baby: If the baby’s gestational age is overestimated, you could be induced when the baby isn’t actually 39 weeks old yet. Babies born before 39 weeks of pregnancy may have a higher risk of breathing and feeding problems.

• Postpartum hemorrhage: With labor induction, the uterus can become overstimulated. An overstimulated uterus may not be able to clamp down and stop bleeding after the baby is born. This excessive bleeding can be life-threatening and require blood transfusion in some cases. 

• Failed induction: Sometimes the induction process doesn’t take, and your body fails to go into labor. Your provider may recommend a C-section in this case. 

There are also certain scenarios where induction isn’t a safe option. This is true if you have had a prior C-section or if your baby or placenta are positioned in certain ways. Induction of labor in such cases may have a higher risk for complications. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Cherilyn Davis, MD

Cherilyn Davis, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician in New York City. She has held local and national roles at the American Medical Women’s Association including board member of the physician division and physician chair of social media.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts