Induction of labour is offered for many reasons, and if you are being offered an induction of labour, the obstetric team will discuss these reasons with you. Like all interventions in pregnancy and birth, there are benefits and risks to induction of labour, and the obstetric team and/or your midwife should discuss them thoroughly with you so you can make an informed decision about you birth.
The process of induction of labour at MidCentral usually begins at 6am, unless you have had a previous caesarean, in which case it will start at 7pm.
You will be asked to provide a urine sample and will have an IV line placed and blood samples taken, a CTG, and a vaginal examination.
If you have not had a previous caesarean and you are less than 3cm dilated, you will most likely be offered oral misoprostol to prime your cervix for induction. This is a chalky oral liquid, given in 2.5mL doses every two hours. You will need a reassuring 20min CTG prior to each dose, and a 40min CTG after your first dose. This may continue for up to two days unless your body kicks into labour from just the misoprostol.
If you have had a previous caesarean or you have completed two days of misoprostol and are not yet dilated to 3cm, you will most likely be offered a balloon catheter. This is a thin rubber tube that is inserted through your cervix and then inflated with 50mL of water, then the other end is taped to your leg to put consistent pressure on your cervix. This will mechanically stretch your cervix to around 3cm.
Once your are dilated to about 3-4cm, the team will likely offer to break your waters, then wait one hour to see if you go into labour on your own. If not, then you will most likely be offered IV synthetic oxytocin mixed in to a bag of saline to encourage contractions. This can be increased or decreased depending on how your body is contracting.