Giving birth can be both exciting and challenging for a pregnant woman given the new life it brings and the risks involved for both the mother and the child. Pregnancy differs among expecting mothers and deliveries can be normal or cesarean section. While there are instances where mothers about to give birth experience labor, there are some situations where labor needs to be induced.
There are several reasons this is done and recommended. For example, if a pregnant woman is already in the full term of pregnancy and has not yet felt any labor pains, inducing labor can be done. However, there are upsides and downsides to this.
List of Pros of Inducing Labor
1. It can be useful if the mother is having pre-eclampsia and a diabetic.
Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication in pregnancy that can happen to first time mothers who are in their 40s or are too young in age. The symptoms of this condition can include increase in blood pressure, vomiting, decrease urine output. If not managed properly, this can be fatal to both the mother and the baby. Inducing labor is often recommended to mothers with complicated pregnancies such as this as well as diabetes.
2. It can minimize the risks for both mother and baby.
By the 37th week of pregnancy, a woman can already give birth. However, there are women whose pregnancy can reach 41 weeks. Although this can happen, there are instances where induction of labor called for. If a pregnant woman has not yet given birth on the 41st week, the baby can be in danger.
3. It hastens delivery if water is already broken but no contractions are felt.
One of the signs of impending labor is when the water is broken. If this happens and there is not enough amniotic fluid left or no contractions are present, labor induction can be ordered by the doctor.
List of Cons of Inducing Labor
1. It can cause uterine rupture.
According to several studies, pregnant women who have previous C-sections are prone to suffer from uterine rupture, a condition wherein the walls of the uterus can tear or even open, if labor is medically induced.
2. Contractions from induced labor can be stressful for the baby.
While inside the uterus, babies can suffer from stress and inducing labor can be one of the causes. By using drugs to induce labor, contractions can be faster and even stronger which can have a toll on the baby’s health while in the womb. This can lead to vacuum births and even forcep deliveries.
3. It can lead to premature birth and result to low heart rate.
If labor is induced medically and too early, it can lead to giving birth prematurely. This can be risky for the baby since not all his organs are fully developed especially the lungs. It can also slow down the heart rate of the baby from strong contractions, thus reducing oxygen supply.
Inducing labor is not the conventional way to start a birth process but it can be the best action to do in some cases. There are risks surrounding this practice which calls for a sound decision-making. Before deciding to undergo one, it is important to talk to the health practitioner about this medical intervention.