Labour Induction and Augmentation
By: sandra003thomasTotal Views: 305, Word Count: 557,
Occasionally, labour may not progress as rapidly as it should. Sometimes the contractions continue to be irregular and are not effective in dilating the cervix and moving the baby down the birth canal. At this point, your obstetrician may decide to augment labour. Your obstetrician will carefully assess the pattern of your contractions, how much your cervix is dilated and how far your baby has descended. If the baby’s heartbeat is normal she will proceed with labour augmentation.
Sometimes, labour may be induced if the health of the woman or baby is at risk. This means that the obstetrician will use medication or other methods to make the woman go into labour. Whether the labour will be induced depends on the condition of the mother and baby, the week of pregnancy, the status of the cervix and other factors.
Augmentation of labour
An amniotomy is the most common form of augmenting labour. If the membranes have not ruptured on their own, your obstetrician may decide to rupture them. The amniotomy will help make your labour progress faster.
An amniotomy also allows the doctor to check the color of the amniotic fluid. If it is clear, it is a good sign and indicates that the baby is doing well. If it is green in color, this may be an indication that the baby has passed meconium inside the uterus. Sometimes, this may be a sign that the baby is facing difficulty inside the uterus.
Induction of labour
Induction of labour is the use of artificial means, such as a medication, to start the process of childbirth. This is done if the health of the woman or baby is at risk.
Reasons for inducing labour
- Postdated pregnancy i.e. pregnancy that has continued at least 7 to 10 days past the due date.
- Rupture of the membranes before labour has started.
- Hypertension due to pregnancy i.e. the mother has high blood pressure caused by the pregnancy.
- Diabetes in pregnancy, especially if the mother is taking insulin to control the sugar levels.
- If the baby is small due to growth restriction.
- If there is an infection of the amniotic sac.
- Separation of the placenta (abruption) from the inner lining of the uterus.
- Because of logistical reasons. For example, if the pregnant woman lives very far from the hospital or if there is a history of fast labour)
- Death of the baby prior to birth.
Risks of labour induction
When monitored properly, induction of labour is safe. But as with any procedure, induction of labour may carry some risk for the mother and baby. Some of the risks associated with labour induction are:
- Foetal distress which results in an abdominal heart rate. This can result from contractions that are too strong or frequent. This can also be due to compression of the umbilical cord.
- A tear or rupture of the uterus.
- A caesarean section which may need to be done if the induction is not successful or if there is foetal distress.
About the Author
Sandra Thomas is a practicing gynecologist based in Denmark. She has been contributing to the field of Women Health and Maternity issues since ten years.
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