Editing Obstetrics (section)

=== Induction and labour ===
{{Main|Induction (birth)|Childbirth}}
{{See|Pain management during childbirth}}
Induction is a method of artificially or prematurely stimulating labour in a woman.<ref>{{Cite web | author = Healthdirect Australia|date=2022-02-08 |title=Induced labour |url=https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/induced-labour |access-date=2022-04-29 |website=www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au |language=en-AU}}</ref> Reasons to induce can include [[pre-eclampsia]], foetal distress, placental malfunction, intrauterine growth retardation and failure to progress through labour increasing the risk of infection and foetal distresses.<ref>{{Cite thesis | vauthors = Surányim A | degree = Ph.D. |title=Prenatal and postnatal evaluation of foetal renal hyperechogenicity in pregnancies complicated with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation | year = 2000 | doi = 10.14232/phd.2154 |publisher=University of Szeged | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Induction may be achieved via several methods:
* Disturbance of cervical membranes<ref>{{Cite web | vauthors = Moldenhauer JS |title=Prelabor Rupture of the Membranes (PROM) - Women's Health Issues |url=https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/complications-of-labor-and-delivery/prelabor-rupture-of-the-membranes-prom |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=MSD Manual Consumer Version |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Pessary]] of ''Prostin'' cream, [[prostaglandin]] E<sub>2</sub><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prostin E2 Vaginal: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & Dosing - WebMD |url=https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-14108/prostin-e2-vaginal/details |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=www.webmd.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Intravaginal or oral administration of [[misoprostol]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ho PC, Ngai SW, Liu KL, Wong GC, Lee SW | title = Vaginal misoprostol compared with oral misoprostol in termination of second-trimester pregnancy | journal = Obstetrics and Gynecology | volume = 90 | issue = 5 | pages = 735–738 | date = November 1997 | pmid = 9351755 | doi = 10.1016/S0029-7844(97)00419-5 | s2cid = 21261210 }}</ref>
* Cervical insertion of a 30-mL [[Foley catheter]]<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Adeniji OA, Oladokun A, Olayemi O, Adeniji OI, Odukogbe AA, Ogunbode O, Aimakhu CO, Omigbodun AO, Ilesanmi AO | display-authors = 6 | title = Pre-induction cervical ripening: transcervical foley catheter versus intravaginal misoprostol | journal = Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | volume = 25 | issue = 2 | pages = 134–139 | date = February 2005 | pmid = 15814391 | doi = 10.1080/01443610500040737 | s2cid = 24250115 }}</ref>
* Rupturing the amniotic membranes<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Premature rupture of membranes | location = Bethesda (MD) | encyclopedia = MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia | publisher = U.S. National Library of Medicine |url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000512.htm |access-date=2022-04-30 |language=en}}</ref>
* Intravenous infusion of synthetic [[oxytocin]] (Pitocin or Syntocinon)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oxytocin 10 IU/ml Solution for infusion - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) |url=https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/30427#gref |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=www.medicines.org.uk}}</ref>

During labour, the obstetrician carries out the following tasks:
* Monitor the progress of labour, by reviewing the nursing chart, performing vaginal examination, and assessing the trace produced by a foetal monitoring device (the [[cardiotocograph]])<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Prior T, Lees C | chapter = Control and Monitoring of Fetal Growth. | title = Encyclopedia of Endocrine Diseases | date = 2019 | volume = 5 | pages = 1–9 | doi = 10.1016/B978-0-12-801238-3.65414-4 | isbn = 9780128122006 | s2cid = 81797258 }}</ref>
* Provide pain relief, either by [[nitrous oxide]], [[opiates]], or by [[local anaesthesia|epidural anaesthesia]] done by [[anaesthesiology|anaesthestists]], an anaesthesiologist, or a [[nurse anaesthetist]].<ref name="pmid2405898">{{cite journal | vauthors = Lloyd-Thomas AR | title = Pain management in paediatric patients | journal = British Journal of Anaesthesia | volume = 64 | issue = 1 | pages = 85–104 | date = January 1990 | pmid = 2405898 | doi = 10.1093/bja/64.1.85 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
* [[Caesarean section]], if there is an associated risk with vaginal delivery, as such foetal or maternal compromise.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Saint Louis H |date=2022-04-14 |title=Cesarean Delivery: Overview, Preparation, Technique |url=https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/263424-overview | journal = Medscape }}</ref>