Labour after induction may be more painful because a labour that starts spontaneously usually builds up gradually, giving you time to get used to each new sensation. You get used to the sensation because your body has the chance to release pain-relieving substances called endorphins. On the other hand, some women like induction because it enables them to have control over knowing roughly when their baby will be born.
Induction at or beyond term might lead to a reduced rate of caesarean section but a slightly higher rate of instrumental birth with forceps or ventouse.
If your induction does not work, your midwife or doctor will discuss other options with you and support you. Other options include another attempt to induce labour or having a caesarean section NICE, a.
Your wellbeing should be considered and the wellbeing of your baby should be assessed using electronic fetal monitoring with your consent. Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about labour and life with a new baby.
Information from NHS choices on being overdue and on induced labour. Find out more about NICE guidance on the induction of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Kelly A, Tan B. American Journal of Epidemiology. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Decker R. Journal of Perinatal Medicine. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. NHS Digital. When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust. All of our articles have been thoroughly researched and are based on the latest evidence from reputable and robust sources. We create our articles with NCT antenatal teachers, postnatal leaders and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as academics and representatives from relevant organisations and charities.
Read more about our editorial review process. Overdue baby — what happens if my baby is late? Read time 11 minutes. Email Post Tweet Post. Well, the story starts with the due date… When is a baby overdue or late? How accurate are due dates? Why are some babies overdue or late? What is a membrane sweep? What happens during a membrane sweep? How likely is a membrane sweep to start labour? Can I do anything to start labour myself?
What is induced labour? Due dates are tricky because it's hard to pinpoint the exact age of a fetus. Reasons for this include irregular periods since due dates are calculated based on a perfect day cycle , sketchy or inaccurate menstrual history presented to the obstetrician, and mistaking spotting during very early pregnancy for a period.
Doctors usually use several methods together to make their best estimate of a due date, including:. Even so, the reality is that 80 percent of babies arrive between 38 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, so your due date window is much bigger than you might think.
Only about 1 out of every 10 babies is officially overdue, which means that the baby is born after 42 weeks of pregnancy. Recent research has shown that delivery after 40 weeks may come with certain risks , and OB-GYNs have responded.
Warshak, M. At the week mark, your doctor or midwife will become more vigilant about monitoring the overdue baby. Ross, M. Methods that your physician can use to monitor your post-term baby's condition are:. After 39 or 40 weeks, it's sometimes best to deliver sooner rather than later: Studies have shown that newborn admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit NICU increase slightly when a pregnancy lasts 40 to 42 weeks.
And stillbirth, though still rare, becomes a concern: At 40 weeks, the risk is 2 to 3 per 1, babies; at 42 weeks, it's 4 to 7 per 1, If labor hasn't started spontaneously, you'll probably be induced at 41 weeks—at the latest. Translation: You won't end up having a Cesarean section. Whether or not you'll be induced depends on your own health, the status of your cervix, and the baby's well-being as determined by a non-invasive procedure called fetal non-stress testing. The conditions inside your uterus past due date may also stress the baby during labor and vaginal delivery.
As a result, Warshak says, "Even if your cervix is at 8 centimeters and labor is progressing, we'll do a C-section if the overdue baby is not tolerating labor well.
We also try natural methods and refer women for acupuncture, reflexology, or reiki. At 40 to 41 weeks, if your cervix is dilated at least 2 centimeters, the midwives in Hasman's practice perform what's called a "cervical sweep," using a finger to separate the cervix from the amniotic sac. This can sometimes kick-start labor. An ongoing concern has been whether induction, as opposed to what's known as expectant management waiting for labor to start spontaneously while monitoring the mother's and baby's well-being , might lead to a higher risk for emergency Cesarean section , and studies have been conflicting.
But a new Danish study of more than , women found that inducing labor from week 39 to week 41 is not connected with higher C-section rates compared with waiting for labor to begin spontaneously or inducing labor later.
Backaches, heartburn, hemorrhoids—at 40 weeks all you want to do is hold your baby in your arms. Here are a few tips to help you cope:. Get a massage. Some Eastern healers believe that certain pressure points on the hands and feet may stimulate the body's natural labor process, although Dr.
Ross says this hasn't been proven. Even if you can't get your tired bod to a prenatal massage therapist, asking your partner to give you a rubdown might help your aching back, not to mention your mood. Become a spice girl. Sadly, there's no magic meal that's guaranteed to bring on labor although there's that famous maternity salad dressing that some moms swear by. Still, Dr. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health.
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