Induction of Labour
Induction of labour occurs when doctors and midwives encourage the labour process to start artificially. Approximately one fifth of women have an induction of labour.
The most common reasons for inducing labour are:
- the woman has specific health concerns i.e. high blood pressure or diabetes
- the pregnancy has gone longer than 41 weeks
- the baby is showing some signs of problems
- the waters have already broken but labour has not started naturally.
Methods of inducing labour include:
- cervical ripening 'balloon catheter'
- Prostaglandin gel
- artificial rupture of membranes (ARM) ('breaking your waters')
- Oxytocin IV drip
Induction of labour resources
More detailed information on induction of labour is available in the following downloadable brochures/booklets, in a range of languages.
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Induction of Labour – English Booklet
(316KB PDF)
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Induction of Labour – Arabic Brochure
(841KB PDF)
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Induction of Labour – Dari Brochure
(958KB PDF)
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Induction of Labour – Farsi Brochure
(948KB PDF)
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Induction of Labour – Simplified Chinese Brochure
(877KB PDF)
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Induction of Labour – Vietnamese Brochure
(536KB PDF)
Pre-induction cervical ripening using a 'balloon catheter'
One method of inducing labour is to insert a soft balloon catheter just inside the opening of the neck of the womb, to help dilate the cervix. The balloon catheter is inflated to apply pressure gradually over a period of hours.
Some women will be able to go home overnight with the catheter in place, and return in the morning for the next stage of care.
More detail on this process can be found in the following resources.
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Going Home after Cervical Priming – English Brochure
(263KB PDF)
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Going Home after Cervical Priming – Arabic Brochure
(594KB PDF)
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Going Home after Cervical Priming – Dari Brochure
(545KB PDF)
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Going Home after Cervical Priming – Farsi Brochure
(543KB PDF)
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Going Home after Cervical Priming – Simplified Chinese Brochure
(726KB PDF)
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Going Home after Cervical Priming – Vietnamese Brochure
(409KB PDF)