Does Induction Speed Up Labor

What is Labor Induction?

That’s a big topic for a small article, so here are some basic facts and referrals for further information:

• Induction is a procedure that attempts to start labor or un-stall a stuck labor.
• Induction used to be more common but the new norm is that care providers use induction only when they need to.
• There are medical inductions like Oxytocin, natural ways to induce labor, and herbs for labor induction.

An induction may be warranted if:

• A stress or non-stress test shows that the placenta is becoming inefficient to support your baby.
• If there is a problem, like when the baby is not thriving and is old enough to survive outside the womb. If there is an issue with the mother such as preeclampsia, labor may be induced as well.
• If labor is continually weak, irregular, or hasn’t started at all at two weeks past the due date. American Family Physician has some good information about post-term pregnancy management.

This is a huge topic so here are some further great reads about labor induction:

• Inducing Labor
• Self Induction of Labor

Does Induction Speed Up Labor or Not?

To look at the question of does induction speed up labor, you’d have to look at the various induction methods. Each method varies and, furthermore, each method varies by woman. However, there has been some research on induction methods, so there are some general time frames and success rates to work with.

Overall, induction does speed up labor for many women. However, there are some reasons a method may not work such as:

• The woman is stressed and cannot relax or is worried about the induction. This won’t always stop an induction from working, but often can.
• If a woman is induced too early, her body may fight the induction.
• A woman may have an unfavorable cervix, which makes some forms of induction less successful. In this case cervical ripening should be used first.

An unsuccessful induction or induction that does not speed up labor can result in a cesarean birth or further induction procedures. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have chosen 18 hours as the cut-off time to determine when an induction has failed.

How Long is Labor with a Scheduled Induction?

The following are various methods of labor induction and information about how quickly they can speed up labor. Induction methods are not a great way to determine how long a particular labor will be because there are so many factors involved. While breaking the water might work for one woman and she’ll have a shorter labor, not all women will.

The best way to decide if an induction method is right for you is by simply asking your care provider "does induction speed up labor regarding various methods and based on your specific situation."

All of the following can be induction methods that are scheduled or used spontaneously – your care provider and you will make this decision.

• Oxytocin (Pitocin and Syntocinon are forms of this): On average, patients have been noted as progressing into spontaneous labor within 8 to 12 hours after this cervical ripening drug is given and there are fewer harsh side effects than other inducing drugs. Cervical ripening may help a woman to go into spontaneous labor but if not, Oxytocin is also used as a actual labor inducing drug. Oxytocin for labor induction after cervical ripening follows the same timeframe as Oxytocin for cervical ripening.
• Dinoprostone (PGE2): This is the most widely used cervical ripening gel. Contractions tend to occur in about 60 minutes and contractions peak in four hours, which means the gel is given at various intervals to make contractions continue.
• Artificial rupture of the membranes: Also known as breaking the water or amniotic sac. This is rarely called for but can be used as a labor inducer if needed. This method has one advantage in that it can reduce labor by one hour according to the American Pregnancy Association.
• Nipple Stimulation: If labor is predicted to naturally occur soon, nipple stimulation done regularly over an hour or two (every 15 minutes or so) can be a powerful way to induce labor. So far there is no good research to show whether nipple stimulation speeds up labor or not. One word of caution with this method is that it can create such strong contractions that they can actually be problematic to the baby. A care provider should be told if this method is being used.
• Walking: This is natural and contraction inducing. Almost all midwifery texts share stories of how this method has been able to progress and speed up labor. If you discuss this with anyone who has been to many births like doctors, nurses, doulas, or midwives and they’ll likely tell you the same. Although, walking alone is not always an efficient way to actually start labor. It is good for speeding it up though.

Above are some of the major labor inducing methods. There are more such as herbs and sexual intercourse but they haven’t been studied to show if they actually speed up labor. The best thing to do is discuss all your options with a care provider. Inducing labor sometimes delays a birth and can drag labor out longer, so your care provider and you will want to make clear decisions based on what’s best for you and your baby.