Why Is Labor Induced?
Induction is very common 1 out of 4 women in the U.S. starts labor with induction. Many times it's done for medical reasons. But some women are induced for convenience, either their own or their doctor's or midwife's. Most experts think that's a bad idea.
Why do some women need to have labor induced?
You are 1 to 2 weeks past your due date. After 41 weeks, you and your baby are at greater risk for complications.
Your water breaks but labor doesn’t start. Once your water breaks, you and your baby have a higher risk of infection. You might not need induction right away, though. Check with your doctor or midwife. Sometimes it's still safe to let labor begin on its own. But after your water breaks, you must not get an internal/vaginal exam.
You have a health problem that puts you or your baby at risk. If you have conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or eclampsia, your doctor or midwife might want to induce labor.
A test showed your baby might have a problem. If your baby is not growing normally or has an abnormal heart rate, your doctor or midwife might want to induce labor.