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A Closer Look

Labor

Induction

While many pregnant women go into labor naturally, some women

need a little push. It could be they are overdue or have a medical issue

that requires giving birth soon. Whatever the reason,

HEALTH

looks

at what really happens during an induction and how it works...

Labor induction,

explains Prof.

Mawahib

Abd Salman,

Consultant,

Professor

Obstetrics and

Gynecology at

Gulf Medical

University

in Ajman is

the artificial

stimulation

of uterine

contractions to

help in childbirth.

“Induction of

labor has the

advantage when

given in true

medical reasons

and it may be

done potentially

to save the life of

a mother and her

baby,” she tells

and is a relatively

common

procedure but

also may be

associated with

implications

on fetal and

maternal

condition. “In a

life threatening

situation,

induction of labor

may be the best

choice,” she says,

however in a case

of labor induction

for social reasons

or convenience,

this may have an

impact on the

mother and baby.

The Commonly Accepted

Medical Reasons for Induction include:

• Post term pregnancy, for instance in the case of a

pregnancy overdue the 41st week.

• Intrauterine Fetal Growth Retardation (IUGR).

• There are health risks to the woman in continuing

the pregnancy (for instance if she has pre-eclampsia).

• Premature Rupture of the Membranes (PROM); this

is when the membranes have ruptured, but labor

does not start within a specific amount of time.

Disadvantages

According to Prof. Abd Salman, the procedure

has an impact on birth experience of women. “It

may be less efficient and is usually more painful

than spontaneous labor,” she tells and also

epidural analgesia and assisted delivery are more

likely to be required. Another disadvantage is

that induction of labor can cause more strain

than spontaneous labor.

With induction of labor, Prof. Abd Salman

indicates that it is reported that less than

two thirds of women gave birth without

further intervention, 15 percent required in

instrumental birth, and 22 percent required

undergoing emergency Caesarean section.**

(**Nice Guidelines)

May/June 2015