Because of the potential for extremely strong contractions, prostaglandin gel is never used to enhance contractions in a labour that has already started. Sometimes the doctor will choose to artificially break your amniotic sac in order to get labour going or to make the contractions stronger.
The doctor will use something that looks like a crochet hook to make a small tear in the membrane. Amniotic fluid, which formed a protective cushion for the baby during pregnancy, begins to seep out of the womb and should, in theory, begin labour. Artificial rupture of the membranes is a common procedure but there is some controversy over whether it really helps.
Sometimes this procedure does not cause the contractions of labour to start. The amniotic fluid continues to seep out of the womb, and therefore the baby loses their protective cushion. If labour contractions do not start, another form of induction, such as oxytocin, will be required. Also, artificial rupture of the membranes increases the risk of an infection of the fetal membranes and amniotic fluid, called chorioamnionitis.
Some women need extra help from a hormone called oxytocin, which is made naturally in the pituitary gland throughout pregnancy. Oxytocin triggers the contractions of labour, although the exact way in which it does this is not yet known. When given synthetically, oxytocin can jumpstart labour or make the contractions stronger.
Synthetic oxytocin is given intravenously through a needle. An infusion pump is used to control the dosage. At first, small amounts of oxytocin are infused. In women with an unfavorable cervix the gel is more effective if administered intracervically. Prostaglandin E2 gel has been used successfully even in women with prolonged pregnancy, hypertension, ruptured membranes, and fetal death. It can also be used to induce late 1st trimester abortion.
Side effects of the gel are mild and minor. Prostaglandin E2 gel has thus been shown to effect cervical ripening and dilatation, reduce induction failures, shorten the induction-delivery interval, reduce oxytocin use, and lower the need for cesarean sections. Prefabricated prostaglandin E2 delivery systems should be approved by the Food and Drug Administration for commercial use. However, some studies have suggested that the baby might have abnormal heartbeats after breast stimulation.
Some women feel that having sex in late pregnancy can induce labor, but there is no conclusion on this yet. Talk to your doctor before doing anything to try to encourage your little one's arrival. Inducing labor is best left to medical professionals — you may cause more harm than good. As frustrating as it can be waiting for your baby to finally decide to arrive, letting nature take its course is often best, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
Before you know it, you'll be too busy to remember your baby was ever late at all! Larger text size Large text size Regular text size.
What Is It? Why It's Done Your doctor might suggest an induction if: your water broke but you are not having contractions your baby still hasn't arrived by 2 weeks after the due date when you're considered post-term — more than 42 weeks into your pregnancy you have an infection in the uterus called chorioamnionitis you have certain risk factors e.
Page 2 How It's Done Some methods of induction are less invasive and carry fewer risks than others. Ways that doctors may try to induce labor by getting contractions started include: Stripping the membranes.
The doctor puts on a glove and inserts a finger into the vagina and through the cervix the opening that connects the vagina to the uterus. He or she moves the finger back and forth to separate the thin membrane connecting the amniotic sac which houses the baby and amniotic fluid to the wall of the uterus.
When the membranes are stripped, the body releases hormones called prostaglandins, which help prepare the cervix for delivery and may bring on contractions. This method works for some women, but not all. Breaking your water also called an amniotomy.
The doctor ruptures the amniotic sac during a vaginal exam using a little plastic hook to break the membranes. If the cervix is ready for labor, amniotomy usually brings on labor in a matter of hours. Giving the hormone prostaglandin to help ripen the cervix. A gel or vaginal insert of prostaglandin is inserted into the vagina or a tablet is given by mouth. This is typically done overnight in the hospital to make the cervix "ripe" soft, thinned out for delivery.
Administered alone, prostaglandin may induce labor or may be used before giving oxytocin. Giving the hormone oxytocin to stimulate contractions. Given continuously through an IV, the drug Pitocin is started in a small dose and then increased until labor is progressing well.
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