| When expectant mothers are past their due date, | | | | there is a risk of infection of the uterus and |
| many obstetricians look towards medications to | | | | nearby organs, respiratory complications and |
| induce labor. The fact is many of the medications | | | | unexpected reactions to anesthesia and other |
| used are not always the safest way to induce | | | | medications during the surgery, such as sudden |
| labor; several have serious side effects that can | | | | drop in blood pressure. Babies born by Cesarean |
| cause complications for the mother and baby. | | | | section are more likely to develop breathing |
| Chemically inducing labor should be the last | | | | problems and get low Apgar scores. The low |
| method considered when inducing labor is | | | | score can be an effect of the anesthesia, or the |
| necessary. | | | | baby may have been in distress to begin with. |
| Despite modern techniques, medical labor induction | | | | Another downside is that the baby does not |
| still introduces considerable risk compared with | | | | receive the same stimulation as a vaginal birth |
| natural onset of labor. According to the Coalition | | | | during delivery. |
| for Improving Maternity Services first-time | | | | Vacuum births commonly cause more damage |
| mothers have more than twice the likelihood of | | | | and tears for the mother. When a vacuum is |
| Cesarean section with induction compared with | | | | used as an aid during labor, babies may suffer |
| labor that starts naturally. This risk is due to the | | | | from injuries including a dislocated shoulder. When |
| procedure itself, not any reason that might have | | | | inducing labor is necessary, the smarter decision is |
| led to inducing labor. | | | | to consider alternative methods before trying |
| If the cervix is not ready for labor, labor induction | | | | using chemicals. |
| medication may increase woman's chance of | | | | One of the most studied natural labor induction |
| Cesarean section five-fold, even if cervical ripening | | | | methods is acupressure. The holistic system of |
| agents are administered. Also, using medications | | | | acupressure, used to induce labor, works by |
| to induce labor requires constant monitoring. The | | | | building on what the body does naturally. In this |
| mother may need to be hooked up to fetal | | | | way, the use of acupressure can be remarkably |
| monitors continuously as well as an IV drip, | | | | beneficial during childbirth. Labor acupressure can |
| confining the mother to bed and causing further | | | | be very helpful in descending your baby, dilating |
| distress. | | | | your cervix, and starting and making the labor |
| Induced labors are usually more painful, which can | | | | contractions more frequent and successful. |
| increase the need for epidural analgesia. Epidurals | | | | Acupressure for labor has been proven to |
| introduce a higher likelihood of adverse effects on | | | | shorten the delivery time by helping your body to |
| the labor, the baby, and the mother. In general | | | | function better and to use its remarkable |
| studies have shown that inducing labor with | | | | underlying capabilities. The chances of having a |
| chemicals increases remarkably the chance of | | | | long labor are decreased becauseof this, therefore |
| having a vacuum birth or a Cesarean section. | | | | reducing any distress or suffering to the child. |
| Cesarean delivery is major surgery, and thus | | | | |