Being offered an induction of labour can bring up a lot of questions. You might be wondering why it’s being recommended, what will actually happen, whether you have other options, and what it could mean for your birth.

Sometimes induction is recommended because there is a medical reason that continuing the pregnancy may carry more risk for you or your baby. At other times, the decision can be less clear-cut and may depend on your individual circumstances, preferences and what matters to you.

Whatever the reason, you deserve to understand why an induction is being recommended for you, what the potential benefits and risks are, and what your options may be.

Asking questions isn’t being difficult. It’s part of making an informed decision about your care.

First, why are you being offered an induction?

There are many reasons you might be offered an induction of labour. These can include going past your due date, your waters breaking before labour starts, concerns about your health or your baby’s wellbeing, or a pregnancy complication that means your maternity team recommends birth sooner rather than later.

But knowing the general reason isn’t quite the same as understanding why it is being recommended in your particular situation.

A good place to start is simply asking:

“Why are you recommending an induction for me?”

You can also ask what the recommendation is based on, how urgent it is, and whether there are alternatives to having an induction at that time.

The answers may be quite different depending on your individual pregnancy, which is why having this conversation with your midwife or doctor is important.

What are the benefits, risks and alternatives?

When an induction is recommended, it can be easy to focus on the question of when it will happen and forget to ask about the decision itself.

Ask your maternity care team what they see as the benefits of having the induction, but also ask about the possible risks or disadvantages. It’s reasonable to want to understand both.

Another important question is:

“What happens if I choose to wait?”

Waiting may or may not be a suitable option depending on why induction has been recommended. If it is an option, ask what waiting would involve. For example, would you or your baby need additional monitoring? Is there a point at which the recommendation would change? What signs or symptoms would mean you should contact the hospital?

You don’t need to become an expert in induction before making a decision. You do need enough information to understand your options and have a meaningful conversation about what feels right for your circumstances.

How will my labour be induced?

Induction isn’t one single procedure. The method used will depend on factors such as how ready your cervix is for labour, your pregnancy and your individual circumstances.

For some women, induction begins with cervical ripening, which is aimed at helping the cervix soften and begin to open. This may involve medication or a balloon catheter. Other parts of an induction can include breaking the waters and using an oxytocin infusion to start or strengthen contractions.

Not everyone will need every step, and the process can sometimes take longer than expected. If your cervix needs ripening first, your induction may begin many hours, or sometimes longer, before established labour starts.

This is why it can be helpful to ask:

“How are you planning to induce my labour, and what is likely to happen first?”

You can also ask what happens if the first method doesn’t work, how long the different stages may take, and what choices you may have as the induction progresses.

How might induction affect my labour and birth?

An induced labour can be different from labour that starts on its own, although every woman’s experience will be different.

Depending on the methods used and your individual circumstances, you may need additional monitoring during labour. Some induction methods can also make contractions become strong quite quickly, so it’s worth talking about your options for comfort measures and pain relief before labour begins.

You may also be wondering whether induction changes your chance of needing an assisted birth or caesarean birth. This isn’t a simple yes-or-no question. Your individual circumstances, the reason for the induction, how your body responds and how you and your baby are coping during labour can all influence what happens.

Rather than assuming what induction will mean for your birth, ask your maternity care team:

“How might having an induction affect my birth in my particular circumstances?”

You can also ask what monitoring is likely to be recommended, whether you’ll still be able to move around and use different positions, and what pain relief options will be available to you.

What will happen on the day of my induction?

Knowing what to expect can make the whole process feel a little less uncertain. Before the day, ask where you need to go, what time you should arrive and what is likely to happen when you get there.

It’s also worth asking whether your partner or support person can stay with you throughout the induction process. This can vary depending on where you are having your baby, particularly if cervical ripening takes place before you move to the birthing area. If staying overnight is important to you, ask specifically whether your support person can remain with you during cervical ripening and what happens if the process continues overnight.

You might also want to ask whether you can eat and drink, move around, shower, rest or leave the ward at different stages of the induction. These practical details can make a surprisingly big difference when the process takes longer than expected.

And remember, induction is a process rather than a timetable. Your experience may not follow an exact schedule, so ask your maternity care team what you can expect and what will happen if things take more or less time than planned.

Not sure what to ask?

There can be a lot to take in when you’re discussing an induction, especially if it wasn’t something you were expecting.

I’ve put together a free 10 Questions to Ask About Induction guide that you can save to your phone or take with you to your next appointment. It covers the important questions about why induction is being recommended, your options, what the process may involve and what to expect on the day.

Download my free 10 questions to ask about induction guide

Want to understand induction in more detail?

If you’ve been offered an induction and want to understand more about what the process may involve, I’ve created Understanding Induction of Labour – An Australian Guide to Your Options, Choices & Preferences.

It goes into more detail about why induction may be offered, the different methods that can be used, what you might expect during the process, and questions you may want to discuss with your maternity care team.

My aim isn’t to tell you whether you should or shouldn’t have an induction. It’s to help you understand the information, ask questions and feel more prepared to take part in decisions about your care.

Please note: This article provides general educational information and is not individual medical advice. Your own circumstances matter. Discuss recommendations and decisions about your care with your midwife, doctor or maternity care team.