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Investigating Induction

What You Need to Know
About Being Induced

By Kelly Camden, Certified Doula

"They're going to induce me."

These days, it is not uncommon to hear pregnant mothers making such a statement. The 2006 Listening to Mothers II survey demonstrated that "four out of 10 mothers (41 percent) reported that their caregiver tried to induce their labor." In addition, as many as 47 percent of mothers receive "synthetic oxytocin (Pitocin) to speed labor."

With nearly half of birthing women receiving Pitocin, it is important to take a look at potential side effects from its use. Pitocin changes the way that labor feels for the mother and it changes birth outcomes.

In some medical practices, an induction is scheduled simply because a woman is still pregnant at her "due date." The myth about induction is that any mother and baby can have a better outcome by forcing the start of labor. Hospital staff may tell mothers, "This is the same thing that your body is going to make." Pitocin may in fact be similar to oxytocin. However, it can have different effects on the body.

In many instances, the risks involved with the use of Pitocin rival the potential benefits. When the subject of induction arises, it's time to seek all of the facts. This brief overview can help you get started:

Intravenesouly receiving Pitocin, a synthetic hormone, is one way to induce labor. Oxytocin is the hormone that is produced in the body that causes contractions. When a woman is receiving Pitocin through an IV, the dosage differs from what would be produced by her body. The dosage is usually increased every half hour.

No longer able to: eat or drink, go for a walk or use a bath or shower for pain relief. Options include standing near the monitor, sitting in a rocker or various positions on the bed. For these reasons, use of pain medication increases.

Want to see more?

• Should Labor Be Induced? Waiting for Mother Nature vs. Picking the Date
• Beyond Pain Relief: Drugs Used in Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery
• The Induction Debate: The Pros and Cons of Inducing Labor
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