What You Should Know: Reasons for Labor Induction

This article is part of my series on pregnancy. For more on pregnancy, see the articles on my content producer page. Also see my articles on homebirth.

As you near the end of your pregnancy, your doctor may mention induction. Though it's become commonplace for women to get an induction, there are real reasons for an induction, and it shouldn't be a decision entered into lightly. I'm also writing an article on the risks of induction so that you can become an informed consumer.

It is estimated that about 3% of pregnancies end up with complications that would require induction. This being the most serious of the reasons that induction would be considered, that's what I'm covering first in this article.

If your doctor feels that it is too risky to continue the pregnancy due to health complications like pre-eclampsia or diabetes, an infection, or lack of growth on the part of your baby, he or she may want to discuss induction with you, even before the 'safe' point of 34-35 weeks. While I recommend that you listen to your doctor's concerns, ultimately it is up to you, how you feel, and what you think, as to whether you will go through with an induction or try to hold out for natural labor or until your baby is a little bit more mature.

Another reason for induction is if your water breaks before labor. This is called PROM or premature rupture of membranes. If you are 34+ weeks pregnant and your water breaks but labor does not begin, doctors will recommend that you get an induction before infection sets in. Doctors like to deliver within 12-24 hours of your water breaking to lower your risk of infection.

Other, more controversial reasons for induction are listed below:

If you are overdue (42 weeks or more), your doctor may recommend induction for that alone or because they feel that your baby is too big. While it is true that babies after 43 weeks have a higher risk of complications like low amniotic fluid, poor growth, and other problems, these risks are still small. Doctors don't tend to have faith that a woman's body knows what it is doing, they prefer to intervene, and so they may recommend induction in this case for the safety of the baby.

If you have a milder health condition that is exacerbated by pregnancy, like controlled (or mostly controlled) diabetes, hypertension, or other minor problems, your doctor might recommend induction as a way to keep the problem from getting worse. I would recommend reading my upcoming article on induction risks if this is offered to you.

If your baby is considered "too large" you may also be offered an induction. The problem with this is that even ultrasounds can be off by a pound or more, and as more inductions and c-sections lower the average birth weight, doctors and other professionals are losing confidence in a woman's ability to deliver what used to be an average sized baby.

If your pregnancy goes to or beyond 41 weeks, your doctor may also recommend an induction because you are post-term.

Were you offered an induction? Please read my article on the risks of induction and don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions about the risks, as well as other questions like these:

Why? Is there any real benefit to delivering my baby sooner that outweighs the risks?

When? Will I have to go for an induction today or can I wait a few days to see if labor starts on its own? Can I wait up to a week?

How? Can we try other, more natural methods before we resort to hospital/medical induction?

I hope that you have a happy, healthy pregnancy and delivery. Congratulations to all the moms-to-be. Be sure to check out my other articles on pregnancy as well as my ever-evolving series on homebirth and other birthing options. Feedback would be appreciated.