After 40 weeks, the viability of the placenta begins to fade and the baby may not receive the nutrients and oxygen needed to sustain healthy growth. If the time has come to give birth and the natural labor process has not begun, doctors can choose to induce labor in a variety of ways.

What Is Labor Induction?

Labor induction or inducing labor is usually done to start contractions of the uterus or to prepare the cervix to soften and/or dilate for a vaginal birth. It usually involves the stimulation of uterine contractions during pregnancy before labor begins on its own to achieve a vaginal birth. ... read more »

Can a Labor Induction Be Done At Home?

A labor induction is usually defined as a process to soften and open the cervix and get a pregnant woman into labor. ... read more »

Labor Induction: Methods and Potential Benefits

If the time has come to give birth and the natural labor process has not begun, doctors can choose to induce labor in a variety of ways. ... read more »

Unproductive Labor

Unproductive labor occurs when mom successfully makes it through the first stage of labor only to have the cervix become unresponsive to contractions and hormonal changes. If the cervix does not dilate and efface, the baby cannot pass through the cervix and into the birthing canal. ... read more »

Tips to Naturally Induce Labor

As you near the end of your pregnancy, you may be ready for the entire process of carrying your baby to be over. Several things can be done to induce labor naturally that might make you have contractions and begin labor, but they'll only work if your body is ready! Follow these labor induction tips. ... read more »

Can Spicy Food Induce Labor?

It is a myth that eating spicy food during pregnancy to induce labor actually brings on labor. There is no known food that brings on labor. ... read more »

Induction of labor

In most women, labor induction is not necessary because labor begins spontaneously without anyone having to do something about it. ... read more »

What Is an Episiotomy?

For decades, episiotomies have been routinely performed to help speed delivery during the pushing phase of labor and to prevent tears to the vagina. ... read more »

How Pregnant Am I When…?

There are milestones throughout a pregnancy. Some are physically noticeable and others happen and pregnant women have no idea they occurred. How pregnant am I? ... read more »

IV Oxytocin Often Not Needed During Normal Labor

Oxytocin is commonly given via IV during birth is progress is slow, but researchers reveal this extra boost of labor inducing hormone may not be needed in many cases ' when given during normal labor. ... read more »

Common Myths About Inducing Labor

The latter days of pregnancy can be the most irritating. When resting in bed, mom may search for the fastest way to self-induce labor from home and may come across some interesting prospects. ... read more »

Does Sex During Pregnancy Cause Labor?

Sex is often one of the first tactics pregnant moms will use to bring about the start of birth. ... read more »

Oral Misoprostol vs. Foley Catheter: Induction of Labor

A study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth examines efficacy and pregnancy complication rates between Foley catheter and oral misoprostol labor induction. ... read more »

C-Section Not More Common in Induced Labor

A new study from London debunks the belief that inducing labor increases the need for a c-section, finding instead that induced labor lowers the risk of C-section delivery by as much as 12%. ... read more »

Inducing Labor Does Not Induce Autism

Studies in recent years have hinted at a link between using thissynthetic hormone ' oxytocin ' to induce or augment labor and theincidence of autism in the child. ... read more »

The Effects of Tachysystole on the Fetal Heart

Researchers from the University of Utah and Intermountain Healthcare published a study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that examined the various effects of tachysystole on the fetal heart. ... read more »

Labor Induction May Not Increase C-Section Risk

Research on the risk of C-section delivery when labor is induced is conflicting. A new study published in BJOG offers a systemic review of previous studies in an attempt to find a consensus on the topic. ... read more »

More Babies Survive When Labor is Induced

There have been conflicting reports about the risks and benefits of labor induction. Some experts believe inducing labor is unnecessary and even claim the practice can be detrimental to the fetus while other experts claim labor induction is completely safe. Those experts now have a bit more clinical precedence to back up their claims. ... read more »

Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD)

Cephalopelvic Disproportion is a rare condition where the baby's head or body is too large to fit through the mother's pelvis. ... read more »

Clinical Management: Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes

ROM (rupture of membranes) is when you break your water. Premature rupture of membranes or PROM is when you break your water before you go into labor. Up to three percent of all PROM occur prior to the 37th week of gestation (preterm PROM)  and 10% occur at term (term PROM).   ... read more »

Should Labor Be Induced If Your Water Breaks Early?

According to a study published in PLOS Medicine, when a pregnant woman's water breaks early it is best to wait and watch instead of forcing the labor along, especially in cases where the event occurs prematurely. ... read more »

C-Sections and Labor Induction in Rural Vs. Urban Hospitals

There are differences in obstetrics care provided in rural and urban areas, according to a new study. ... read more »

The Bishop Score - Assessing Success of Induction

Doing the 'Bishop score' will help determine your chances of having a vaginal delivery. ... read more »