Inducing labor is when a prenatal provider uses methods or medications to start labor if it hasn't begun on its own.
Your provider may recommend induction if it’s safer for you or your baby to deliver sooner.
Your provider may use one or a combination of techniques, including:
- Membrane stripping, which involves separating the membranes from your cervix to help release hormones that start labor.
- A cervical ripening balloon, a small device that gets inserted into your cervix and filled with saline to help it open.
- Rupturing the membranes, where a small probe is used to break your water.
They may also give you medication, including:
- Prostaglandins (such as Cervidil), vaginal suppositories used to soften the cervix.
- Oxytocin (Pitocin), which is given through an IV to trigger contractions.
Your provider may recommend inducing labor if:
- You have a medical condition such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, or a uterus infection, or if there are concerns about your baby’s growth.
- Labor doesn't start after your water breaks (prelabor rupture of membranes).
- Your pregnancy goes beyond 39 to 42 weeks, depending on your situation.
Your provider may not recommend inducing labor if:
- Your pregnancy is healthy and has not reached 39 weeks.
- You have placenta previa, where your placenta covers part or all of your cervix.
- Your baby is in distress, in which case, a C-section may be recommended.
- You've had uterine surgery in the past. Some procedures, like a classical C-section, can make induction unsafe.
- Your baby is not in a head-down position.
It's normal to have concerns about pain. Talk to your provider about options for managing it.
You may also have mixed feelings about being induced — relief that you have a plan but also anxiety about the process. Your prenatal team is there to answer any questions and make sure you feel supported and comfortable with your birth plan.
Learn why your provider might recommend induction and the techniques used to bring on labor more quickly.
