Being induced or having labour augmented (sped up) has become an increasingly common part of our birth culture. Almost 35% of women had their labours induced in 2019 (Australia’s mothers and babies, Onset of labour – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) and 17% of mothers had their labour augmented. This increases to 42% of first-time mothers.
Tips for a positive induction
If you are in the 35% of women being induced, here are my top tips for how to have a positive induction.
1. Understand the choice is yours
The choice of being induced or not is always yours. Induction of labour can be suggested for a number of reasons, ranging from medically indicated to convenience. It’s important to understand why induction is being suggested for you and what’s involved. As a doula and childbirth educator, I recommend using your BRAIN to help you in the decision making process.
B – What are the benefits of being induced for both yourself and your baby
R – What are the risks of being induced for both yourself and your baby
A- What alternatives are available (for example, doing nothing, caesarean birth, alternatives within the induction process)
I – What does your instinct tell you?
N- What happens if you do nothing or what happens next?
S – Ask for space/time to make your decision? You don’t have to make a decision immediately – it’s ok to ask for time and space to make a decision on whether you are induced or not or on the next step
Weigh up all your options and the risks, and then make the decision that is best for you. In my experience, those that feel like being induced was their decision or on their terms, even if it was completely different to what was ‘planned’ tend to have a more positive experience than those who felt like they were ‘forced into it’.
2. Educate yourself
Education is key. From understanding what is involved at each step of the induction to knowing what your options are and understanding what else is involved (ie continuous monitoring, vaginal exams) being educated can help you make informed decisions at every step along the way.
One of my go-to resources for induction information is ‘Why Induction Matters’ by Rachel Reed. Why Induction Matters goes through the different reasons induction may be suggested, different forms of induction, risks and benefits of induction, the difference between spontaneous labour and induced labour and how to write a birth plan for induction.
Attending independent childbirth education (such as Hypnobirthing Australia classes) can give you a broader understanding of the physiology of labour. It can also give you insight into how to support your hormones and birthing body, how to ‘fill the gaps’ of being induced, plus give you tools and techniques to support you during your labour and birth. More than that, independent childbirth education can give you the tools you need to help navigate the hospital system.
Understanding your options and what is involved with each step in the induction process can help you make informed decisions.
3. Write your birth preferences or plan for induction
Being induced doesn’t mean your plans or preferences go out the window. Write your birth preferences for induction of labour – consider things such as;
– what methods of induction you want to start with?
– how long do you want in between each new intervention?
– what support do you want/ who do you want on your team and at what stage do you want them with you?
– what methods of pain relief do you want/are you open to considering?
– preferences for after birth including delayed cord clamping, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin
Communicate these with your careprovider prior to your induction (if possible) and again on the day of your induction
4. Don’t fight it
Once you have made the decision to be induced or have your labour augmented – go with it. Lean into that decision rather than fight it. When you fight the decision or the process of induction, it can cause stress and tension – and put your body into ‘fight or flight’ mode. This increase in adrenaline can further inhibit labour, which in turn can increase the level of intervention needed.
Labour requires surrender – surrender to your birthing body and to the process of labour and birth. When you are relaxed, your body is in a better position to produce the hormones required for labour or at the very least, not inhibit them.
5. Surround yourself with the right people
Your birthing body needs to feel safe, secure and supported. Surround yourself with people that are there to truly support you and help you feel safe and secure. If you have a birth partner, make sure they are also educating themselves on induction, what’s involved, and tools and techniques to help you during labour (for both pain relief and remaining relaxed). Being supported also means having someone who can help protect your birth space and preferences. This can feel overwhelming, so make sure your birth partner is on-board and has strategies in place if they are feeling worried about how to protect the space.
If your birth partner isn’t feeling confident that they can fully support you, or even if they are and you just want the extra support, consider hiring a doula. A doula can provide you and your birth partner with physical and emotional support – and they can tag in when your birth partner needs a break. Induction of labour can be a looong process
6. Have patience
On that note – induction of labour really can be a long process. It can take days. Have a plan in place for how you are going to manage if it does take some time. Consider;
– how are you going to find ways to rest – especially if you are in the hospital for the whole time?
– how will you manage if your induction (or the next step in the process) keeps getting delayed? Hospitals can be busy places – just because you are told that something will happen at a certain time, it doesn’t mean it will.
– How will you distract yourself if everything takes time? Take it as an opportunity to play a game, read a book or catch up on a movie
– How will you maintain a positive mindset?
7. Do the inner work before labour
In today’s birthing culture, it would be naive to think that simply wishing for a positive birth experience will bring you one. Yes, a positive mindset is necessary. But birth requires so much more than that.
It requires an inner work, working through fears, learning to trust your instinct and believing in your body. It takes a sense of introspection and work to move through any emotional issues that are arising. It takes finding your voice and having the confidence to use it. It takes courage to make decisions that feel right for you and your baby, even if they fall outside of hospital guidelines. It takes a strong sense of self.
This is all work that needs to be done before labour – not while you are in the midst of it.
8. Work with your hormones
Induction of labour often means giving you a synthetic form of oxytocin (called Syntocinon in Australia). This synthetic oxytocin works differently from how naturally-produced oxytocin works in your body. So regardless of whether you have synthetic oxytocin or not, you can still benefit from having your body produce its own oxytocin. The more oxytocin you produce, the less synthetic oxytocin you need.
Some ways that you can get your oxytocin flowing during labour
– create a calm, relaxed birth environment. This includes covering any clocks (nobody needs to watch the clock during labour) and turning down the monitors if they are distracting
– dim the lights
– have a cuddle – oxytocin is also called the ‘cuddle hormone’
– nipple or clitoral stimulation. Most hospitals will have a breast pump available which can help with nipple stimulation.
– ask for privacy
– rest
9. Have a toolkit
Have a range of tools and techniques to help you during your labour – and practice them beforehand. This might include breathing techniques, affirmations, massage, counter-pressure, acupressure, TENS machine, using water (for example the shower or pool/bath if it’s available).
Induction of labour can produce contractions that are more challenging, more intense and more frequent than spontaneous labour but it doesn’t mean you have to have an epidural before they begin (unless you want to, of course).
10. Surround yourself with the positive
We often hear about induction of labour as a horrible experience, but it doesn’t have to be. Start to read stories or watch videos about positive induction experiences. Reading positive stories can give you an insight into what others found to be helpful, and how they made informed decisions along the way. For example, Robyn tells the story of how she went from being induced being her biggest fear to having an incredible birth experience after having to be induced unexpectedly at 38 weeks – she describes it as the ‘greatest experience of her life’
Having your labour induced can still be a truly positive experience, but like all birth experiences, it takes preparation, education, support and the inner work to feel confident and empowered to give birth on your own terms.
Kate Vivian is a self-professed pregnancy and birth geek who is finally learning to embrace the chaos of having 3 kids. It was the birth and ‘bringing baby home’ experience of her first baby, and the overwhelming guilt that went with it, that led her to start Bright Mums – and create a world where Mums matter.
A Certified Hypnobirthing Australia Practitioner, childbirth educator and postpartum doula, Kate works with Mums-to-be not only supporting them through pregnancy, and birth but also teaching them to honour themselves at a time when the world is telling them their baby is the most important thing.
With almost 2 decades in adult education, Kate has the ability to create a safe space, a non-judgey space. A place where Mums can relax and feel supported regardless of what their journey looks like.
A keen traveller in a former (pre-kids) life, Kate dreams of the day her kids are big enough to take skiing and they can completely show her up while she is busy falling down mountains.
Find out more about Kate and how she can help you feel confident and empowered to give birth on your own terms here