The action of starting childbirth artificially.
Employing artificial methods to induce labor if prolonging the pregnancy could pose a threat to the health of the mother or the baby.
The primary reason for inducing labor is typically because the pregnancy has exceeded the estimated due date, raising the likelihood of complications during delivery. Additional reasons for labor induction may include pre-eclampsia, a severe condition characterized by high blood pressure and fluid retention, Rhesus incompatibility, a discrepancy in the blood types of the mother and fetus, or intrauterine growth retardation, which refers to insufficient growth of the fetus in the womb.
Various induction techniques are employed based on the stage of labor and the condition of the cervix. A prostaglandin pessary could be placed deep into the vagina to aid in the softening and opening of the cervix. Furthermore, the hormone oxytocin might be administered as a continuous intravenous drip to trigger uterine contractions.