Induction

 

Induction of labor is offered when the physician feels the baby is safer outside your womb or when the mother asks for one.  The decision to allow a doctor to induce labor is very important.  Induction often leads to other interventions and ultimately a Cesarean section if the procedure fails.  While there are valid medical reasons for induction, in order to give your informed consent, it is vital that you learn as much as possible about the procedure itself as well as your doctor's reason for wanting to induce.  Simply being past your due date, in my opinion, is a very poor reason to induce.
http://onyx-ii.com/birthsong/page.cfm?labor  This is a great site with several articles about induction.
http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/wp_induction2.htm ICAN International: Position Statement on Induction. http://www.childbirth.org/articles/labor/induction.html This is a very complete website from childbirth.org. 
Misoprostol (Cytotec) for Labor Induction: A Cautionary Tale
Methods for Cervical Ripening and Induction  From the American Academy of Family Physicians, this website offers technical information and photos.
CIMS Fact Sheet on Induction The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services' fact sheet on induction.
ACOG Practice Guidelines for Induction   This article discusses the history of induction, the Bishop Scale for cervical ripeness, common procedures and common medical reasons to induce. 
 

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