You do not need an induction

Unless you need one.

We don’t truly understand the processes that triggers a labor to begin but we do know there are a complex cascade of hormones involved. These hormones include oxytocin, prostaglandins, estrogen, relaxin, prolactin, catecholamines, and many more. When you go into an induction providers only give synthetic versions of two hormones - prostaglandin and oxytocin and hope for the best.

When you go into an induction, providers try one intervention after another just seeing what will work. You will end up with what is called ‘the cascade of interventions’. And when nothing works, this is called a failed induction which will lead to a belly birth (cesarean)

An induction basically means let’s try to chemically and mechanically get the baby out and if it doesn’t work we will surgically remove the baby.

When would you need one? There are conflicting findings for most health problems that may arise, but the most major reason to need an induction is being diagnosed with true hypertension/preeclampsia

When you are primiparous (a parent who’s having their first child) an induction can take 24-72 hours and maybe even longer if you have the will to keep going (the longest I’ve heard was 10 days). For multiparous parents it can be much shorter (the shortest I’ve seen is 8 hours and the shortest I’ve heard of is 3 hours).

If you choose to get an elective induction then that is wonderful and you should be excited to meet your baby soon! My only desire is for parents to be well informed going into it.