Your due date has passed quietly, and nothing has happened to you. Also, you may not feel any signs of labor, such as pain or restlessness.
It’s time for you to use labor induction interventions.
Depending on the time past your due date and your health condition, the doctor will suggest different support measures. So, when to induce labor after due date?
My article will provide you with all the most useful information regarding these measures’ concepts, reasons, benefits, and potential risks.
What Is Inducing Labor?
Induction of labor is a collection of measures that a health care provider will use to induce labor in a pregnant woman, such as medication or rupture of the amniotic sac.
The amniotic sac (also called the sac) is the space inside a pregnant woman’s womb (womb) where the growing baby is filled with amniotic fluid.
The labor contractions cause your uterine muscles to tighten and relax, prompting the baby to exit your uterus.
For your pregnancy to develop healthily, it’s best to go with nature and let labor begin independently.
But if your health and your pregnancy don’t allow it, you’ll need to wait at least 39 weeks pregnant for your baby to grow up to be healthy before undergoing labor induction.
Why Should You Induce Labor?
When the due date is too long, the baby’s health inside your belly will become increasingly dangerous. In addition, some additional causes that healthcare providers will tell you include:
- The baby has stopped growing further
- There is not enough amniotic fluid inside the amniotic sac
- Pregnant people with chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, obesity, RH, diabetes, and heart, lung, and kidney diseases
- Pregnant people with health problems during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
- Pregnant woman with a risk of infection, such as uterine infection
- Placenta problem. The normal pregnancy of a pregnant woman lasts from more than 41 to 42 weeks, with the function of providing oxygen and food through the umbilical cord to the baby. After this threshold, the placenta no longer works as well as before or even separates from the uterus (also known as abruption).
- Amniotic fluid rupture before labor (also known as PROM- premature rupture of membranes).
When To Induce Labor After Due Date?
Usually, your doctor will recommend inducing labor when there are problems with the health of the mother/baby, or it is more than 2 weeks past the due date.
For some pregnant people, keeping the baby and mother through this difficult time healthy is the safest way.
If medical reasons make you need to induce labor earlier, wait at least 39 weeks for your baby to reach ideal health.
Talk to your healthcare provider regularly so you can stay up-to-date on your health and plan to have vaginal delivery at the most appropriate time.
What Is The Risk Of Inducing Labor?
It’s hard to know exactly when you’re pregnant, and the onset of labor can sometimes cause serious problems.
If the procedure is too soon (one to two weeks before the due date), your baby will be born too soon.
Premature babies are more likely to have health problems than babies born on time, so wait at least 39 weeks for induction.
This technique is not for all pregnant women, especially those with a cesarean section or uterine surgery.
In addition, it will fail if the woman cannot give a vanigal birth for the next 24 hours.
Labor-inducing drugs such as prostaglandins or oxytocin are especially prohibited in cases of low fetal heart rate, as they can cause irregular uterine contractions and decrease the baby’s heart rate.
After the birthing process, unwanted complications can occur, including infection, uterine rupture, or postpartum bleeding.
FAQs
How Early Can You Induce Labor?
You may only have to wait at least 39 weeks for your baby to develop enough before starting the inducing labor.
If done earlier, premature babies will have more health problems, especially malnutrition, and diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
How Long After Due Date Do They Induce?
It is best to go with nature and let the birthing process occur most comfortably.
But induction of labor would be the ideal method if it’s two weeks of pregnancy past your due date and your/baby’s health is worrying.
When Is It Safe To Induce Labor?
The answer is definitely after 39 weeks! Babies are born healthier when they have developed to an ideal level in the womb.
If you choose to see your baby earlier, your baby may have many health problems and malnutrition.
Some Last Words
Inducing labor is a serious medical method to induce labor to come more quickly and naturally.
Because it greatly affects the health of first-time mothers and newborn babies, it is best to have at least one talk with a highly qualified doctor to determine the right time to perform this technique.
So, when to induce labor after due date? We hope you got the answer and your birth plan after this article. Good luck!
