induction of labour

Short answer: many mummies with induced labour are able to enter active labour successfully, with few not having any cervical dilatation and proceeding to do a C-section. Long answer: To initiate the process of labour, it works almost all the time, just that the duration of labour is widely variable. After the initiation of labour starts with the cervix softening and starting to dilate, and the contractions start, the rest of the labour becomes like spontaneous labour, where it may and may not progress to delivery. Some other things they may do to help: 1) syntocinon drip (to increase the contractions), 2) artificial rupture of (amniotic sac) membrane. Your body is the one that then determines whether your cervix can dilate to 10cm, and your baby is the one that will determine whether he/she can tolerate the contractions (they use the CTG to monitor your contractions, baby’s heartrate and whether there is foetal distress). So what leads to the need for C-section? 1) The induction of labour with the tablets don’t bring about dilation of the cervix (small percentage) [Following reasons are the same for spontaneous vs induced labour] 2) Failure to progress (labour) ie. You can’t dilate to 10cm no matter how long your labour is, and 3) Foetal distress Depending on what happens, you may need an emergency or a crash C-section (difference is how much time they have to bring you into the operating theatre to get the baby out), but at the end of the day, your doctor will try to do what’s best and safest for you and baby:) The alternative is waiting for spontaneous labour. That takes away 1), but there’s still a chance you may need a C-section if labour doesn’t progress. And if you don’t go into spontaneous labour even after waiting, the risk of stillbirth increases after 42 weeks if I’m not wrong.