Inducing labor is the artificial start of the birth process through medical intervention or other methods.

Inducing labor is the artificial start of the birth process through medical intervention or other methods. When an induction is performed for reasons other than medical necessity, it is considered elective. While the use of induction for convenience or preference is on the rise, it is best to allow your body to go into labor naturally when possible.

Some reasons for medically inducing labor include:

• When a complication develops such as hypertension, preeclampsia, heart disease, gestational diabetes or bleeding during pregnancy.
• If the baby is in danger of not getting enough nutrients and oxygen from the placenta.
• The amniotic sac has ruptured but labor hasn’t started within 24-48 hours.
• The pregnancy is prolonged beyond 42 weeks with possible risk to the baby from a gradual decrease in the supply of nutrients from the placenta.

Labor can be induced using the following methods:

• Medications including Pitocin and Prostaglandin
• Artificial rupturing of bag of waters

If your provider agrees to an elective induction, our office will schedule that at the hospital you are planning to deliver in. The time you are scheduled to come in may change suddenly, as patients who present to labor and delivery in spontaneous labor have priority, as do patients needing a medically indicated induction. American Fork and Utah Valley Regional Medical Centers will call their scheduled patients either the night before, or the morning of the induction to give instructions about going to the hospital. Patients at Timpanogos Regional Hospital and Mountain View Hospital are instructed to call the hospital and check with the Labor and Delivery nurse the morning of their scheduled induction.