What are the risks of inducing labour?
Generally, inducing labour is safe. The techniques used to induce labour shouldn’t hurt, although they may cause your contractions to come on stronger and more often than they would naturally. Inducing labour, especially with prostaglandins and oxytocin, may be more risky for women who have had a previous caesarean section or other surgery to the uterus. There is also a very small risk that the placenta will separate from the wall of the uterus (placental abruption) with these medications if the contractions become too intense. If the contractions are too strong, the dose of medication will be reduced or stopped altogether. Breaking the amniotic sac can lead to infection if you don’t deliver within a day or two after your doctor tries to induce labour. In rare cases, the umbilical cord can slip out before the baby (prolapsed cord).
