Editing Childbirth (section)

===Labour induction===
{{Main|Labour induction}}

[[Labor induction]] is the procedure where a medical professional starts the process of labor instead of letting it start on its own. Labor may be induced (started) if the health of the mother or the baby is at risk. Induction of labor can be accomplished with medication or mechanical methods.<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title=Labor Induction |url=https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/labor-induction |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=www.acog.org |language=en}}</ref>

[[Medical guideline|Medical guidelines]] recommend a full evaluation of the maternal-fetal status, the status of the cervix, and at least a 39 completed weeks (full term) of gestation for optimal health of the newborn when considering elective induction of labour. Indications for induction may include:<ref name=":14" />
* Problems with the placenta
* Health issues with the fetus
* Maternal conditions such as [[gestational diabetes]] or [[chronic kidney disease]]
* [[Preeclampsia]], [[eclampsia]] or [[gestational hypertension]]
* [[Premature rupture of membranes]]
* [[Postterm pregnancy]]

Induction may also be considered for logistical reasons, such as the distance from hospital or [[psychosocial]] conditions. In these instances [[gestational age]] confirmation must be done, and the maturity of the fetal lung must be confirmed by testing. The contraindications for induced labour are the same as for spontaneous vaginal delivery, including [[vasa previa]], complete [[placenta praevia]], [[umbilical cord prolapse]] or active [[Genital herpes|genital herpes infection]], in which cases a cesarean section is the safest delivery method.<ref name="urlwww.acog.org">{{cite web |title= Oxytocin for Induction |work= Optimizing Protocols in Obstetrics |series= Series 1 |date= December 2011 |author= ACOG District II Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Committee |publisher= [[American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists|American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]] (ACOG) |url= https://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/ACOG_Districts/District_II/~/media/Districts/District%20II/PDFs/OxytocinForInduction.pdf |access-date= 29 August 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130621001053/https://www.acog.org/About_ACOG/ACOG_Districts/District_II/~/media/Districts/District%20II/PDFs/OxytocinForInduction.pdf |archive-date= 21 June 2013 }}</ref>

Women often do not receive clear and detailed information about the process of labor induction, its benefits and risks.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal |date=27 March 2024 |title=Maternity services: research can improve safety and quality of care |url=https://evidence.nihr.ac.uk/collection/maternity-services-research-can-improve-safety-and-quality-of-care/ |journal=NIHR Evidence |type=Plain language summary |publisher=National Institute for Health and Care Research |doi=10.3310/nihrevidence_62672}}</ref><ref name=":82">{{Cite journal |last1=Coates |first1=Rose |last2=Cupples |first2=Georgina |last3=Scamell |first3=Amanda |last4=McCourt |first4=Christine |date=1 November 2018 |title=Women's experiences of induction of labour: Qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0266613818303115 |journal=Midwifery |language=en |volume=69 |pages=17–28 |doi=10.1016/j.midw.2018.10.013 |pmid=30390463}}</ref> For example women might not know how long the process will last, how long they need to stay in the hospital and how strong the pain caused by the procedure would be.<ref name=":82" /> Providing up-to-date information about the procedure allows women to make an informed choice and give an [[informed consent]] or refuse the induction.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Coates |first1=Dominiek |last2=Makris |first2=Angela |last3=Catling |first3=Christine |last4=Henry |first4=Amanda |last5=Scarf |first5=Vanessa |last6=Watts |first6=Nicole |last7=Fox |first7=Deborah |last8=Thirukumar |first8=Purshaiyna |last9=Wong |first9=Vincent |last10=Russell |first10=Hamish |last11=Homer |first11=Caroline |date=2020-01-29 |editor-last=Mastrolia |editor-first=Salvatore Andrea |title=A systematic scoping review of clinical indications for induction of labour |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=15 |issue=1 |pages=e0228196 |bibcode=2020PLoSO..1528196C |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0228196 |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=6988952 |pmid=31995603 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":92">{{Cite journal |last1=Coates |first1=Dominiek |last2=Goodfellow |first2=Alison |last3=Sinclair |first3=Lynn |date=24 January 2020 |title=Induction of labour: Experiences of care and decision-making of women and clinicians |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1871519219302318 |journal=Women and Birth |language=en |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=e1–e14 |doi=10.1016/j.wombi.2019.06.002 |pmid=31208865}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Rydahl |first1=Eva |last2=Eriksen |first2=Lena |last3=Juhl |first3=Mette |date=February 2019 |title=Effects of induction of labor prior to post-term in low-risk pregnancies: a systematic review |journal=JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports |language=en |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=170–208 |doi=10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003587 |issn=2202-4433 |pmc=6382053 |pmid=30299344}}</ref>