Labour Induction - How To Do It?

Pregnancy is usually one of the most important times in a woman’s life. Pregnancies are divided into four terms. These include the early term where the delivery happens after 37 weeks, the full term where delivery happens after 39 weeks, the later term where the delivery takes place after 41 weeks and the fourth or post-term stage where the delivery happens after 42 weeks.

If a pregnancy lasts for two weeks longer than the expected due date, a woman is more likely to experience complications. In such situations, it is recommended that a woman should get the doctor to induce labor.

The medical ways to induce labor are as follows:

1. Cervical ripening - Naturally occurring chemicals like prostaglandins will be used. These tend to soften the cervix to allow cervical stretching. These can either be delivered to the vagina or taken as an oral medication. 
2. Stripping - P/V examination done along with sliding movements of fingers between amniotic sac and cervix to allow natural prostaglandins to release and thus labor induced.
3. Breaking or bursting of the amniotic sac that covers the baby within the uterus. This gets the labor started and is also known as amniotomy.
4. Using oxytocin to induce labor as it tends to ripen the cervix and increase the contractions of the uterus that helps in establishing labor.

Some of the natural and most effective ways through which labor can be induced are as follows:

1. Relaxation techniques:  Self-hypnosis(motivated towards normal delivery) and deep breathing may be useful in inducing labor in certain women as they can tolerate pain well than others.

2. Nipple stimulation: Gently rubbing or rolling the nipple may release oxytocin and hence induce labor.

3. Exercise: Take a light walk.

There are chances that a woman might get highly annoyed because of the delay during the post-term stage. So it is highly important that women speak with their doctors or specialists about methods of inducing labor.