Navigating Holiday Inductions: Tips For Managing Expectations and Planning Ahead

What is an induction?

An induction is when your provider will administer Pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) to induce contractions and start labor. They may also use a foley bulb placed in the vaginal canal to assist in dilation. Some other common medications that are used to induce labor are cytotec and cervidil. In this process they may also rupture your membranes (your waters) if your body has not already done so. 

Why should I avoid induction?

While inductions are SOMETIMES medically necessary, they are not always needed. Inductions can lead to a cascade of further interventions such as the need for additional pain management. Since you are artificially inducing labor this can sometimes cause contractions to rapidly intensify and be even more painful or uncomfortable. Since they are more painful you may ask for an epidural when you did not plan to get one. Epidurals come with their own risks and can also lead to more interventions. 

Why are inductions more common around the holidays?

While we all would love to spend the holidays with our families, providers will begin to push for induction before the holidays. This is a personal choice you must consider and weigh the pros and cons for your family. More often than not the risks of an induction are much more significant than any pros you may have. Some studies have said that the Monday before Thanksgiving has the highest rate of inductions. 

How to avoid induction?

Providers may induce you for a number of reasons such as high blood pressure, going over due, fetal growth restriction, etc. While these can be serious situations it is important to consider the facts of your pregnancy. For example: you get to your appointment and have a high blood pressure reading, while this can be alarming, you can request another reading in an hour or at the hospital. Driving and the nerves prior to your appointment may cause a higher initial blood pressure reading. If your blood pressure remains high, then your provider will urge you to get an induction to avoid pre eclampsia which is very reasonable for multiple high blood pressure readings.

In any situation you can ask questions to evaluate the urgency of your situation and the induction reason. 

Here is an acronym to follow-

B - Benefits - What are the benefits?

R - Risks - What are the risks?

A - Alternatives - Are there any alternatives?

I - Intuition - What is my gut feeling?

N - Nothing - Do you have time to think this through? What would happen if we did nothing?

This acronym can be used throughout your pregnancy, labor and postpartum periods as it can be applied in many situations. 

Prep

If you have a due date around the holidays, prepare yourself for the possibility of your provider urging an induction. Discuss your plan with your partner and birth team. Some things you and your partner can discuss is what you feel is best for your family and how you both can advocate for your birth plan and your preferences. Avoiding an induction ultimately circles back to being prepared and having a birth plan in place.