Today, expectant mothers have more options for child delivery than ever before. A combination of medical advances, combined with an increased focus on maternal and child safety has led to the development of more advanced labor induction techniques.
Labor is induced in many cases, and is most commonly performed to secure the safety of a child delivery. In that cases of certain maternal illnesses, such as diabetes, induced labor may be the safest form of delivery. Additionally, certain potential complications related to fetal illness can be avoided by relying upon induction as an alternative to traditional delivery. The science of labor induction has developed to help provide both the mother and expectant child more medical options to avoid complications during the birth process.
While there are many forms of induced labor, each designed to help maximize the success of the delivery, there are also risks of induction. In particular, by selecting an induced birth, the baby is at risk of premature delivery, as well as potential complications related to fetal distress. Babies and mothers require careful monitoring in cases of induction to ensure safety at all times.
There are several common forms of labor induction including Amniotomy (“Breaking the Water”), Oxytocin (Synthetic Hormone Induction), the Foley Catheter method and Membrane Removal. Doctors have perfected these techniques over the years to reduce risk, although there is still the potential for complications. Many mothers opt for natural induction methods, which have further developed to give expectant mothers more options than ever.
