Occasionally it becomes necessary to medically induce labor. A women might appear to be “stuck” in latent labor, she may be too far past her estimated due date, her blood pressure might be too high (hypertension), or the baby might be experiencing fetal distress. Sometimes the reasons are not medical in nature. If a woman is full term and her preferred doctor is going to be out of town, she might be induced so her doctor is able to deliver the baby. I have also heard of pregnant women being induced so their husbands can attend the birth while they … Continue reading →

A growing number of doctors have been advocating routine inductions in their patients. In some practices, this is standard procedure at 41 weeks. It was for my OB, but fortunately, I went into labor 8 days late, on the day I was to go in to “discuss” induction. In other practices, doctors routinely induce patients for various reasons, including the belief the baby is growing too large, there is low fluid or the mother is diabetic. Natural birth advocates and many midwives have long warned against routine inductions. They cite several problems that can arise from routine induction. Many worry … Continue reading →