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Labour Induction: Care Instructions

Overview

If you pass your due date and your labour does not start on its own, your doctor may want to try to start (induce) labour. Your doctor may suggest doing this for other reasons. It may be a good idea to induce labour if you have another medical problem, such as high blood pressure. Or it may be a good idea if the placenta can no longer give enough support to the baby.

There are several ways to induce labour, such as using medicine or breaking the amniotic sac.

After you have your baby, you should not have any side effects from the medicine used to start labour.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

When should your labour be induced?

Labour induction may be done if labour doesn't start on its own.

Labour may be induced when:

  • Your pregnancy has gone 1 to 2 weeks past your expected due date.
  • You have a medical problem that may harm your health or the health of your baby if you continue to be pregnant. This includes high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and diabetes.
  • Your water breaks, but labour does not start.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

  • You passed out (lost consciousness).
  • You have severe vaginal bleeding.
  • You have severe pain in your belly or pelvis.
  • You have had fluid gushing or leaking from your vagina and you know or think the umbilical cord is bulging into your vagina. If this happens, immediately get down on your knees so your rear end (buttocks) is higher than your head. This will decrease the pressure on the cord until help arrives.

Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • You have signs of preeclampsia, such as:
    • Sudden swelling of your face, hands, or feet.
    • New vision problems (such as dimness or blurring).
    • A severe headache.
  • You have any vaginal bleeding.
  • You have belly pain or cramping.
  • You have a fever.
  • You have had regular contractions (with or without pain) for an hour. This means that you have 8 or more within 1 hour or 4 or more in 20 minutes after you change your position and drink fluids.
  • You have a sudden release of fluid from the vagina.
  • You have low back pain or pelvic pressure that does not go away.
  • You notice that your baby has stopped moving or is moving much less than normal.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:

  • You have questions about inducing labour.

Where can you learn more?

Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd

Enter Y899 in the search box to learn more about "Labour Induction: Care Instructions".

Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.