Elective Induction of Labor

If there is one thing that an expectant mother anticipates it's the onset of labor and delivery. Although the results that come from this time are going to be well worth any effort that needs to be put into it, it also creates quite a bit of stress. One of the reasons why this is the case is because labor is one of those situations that simply gets a lot of bad press. It can be a very difficult time of the pregnancy but it is one that is necessary in order for you to bring the baby into the world naturally. There has also been a lot of talk about the elective induction of labor and whether it is a safe option for those that do not like being hit by surprises.

Let's face it, all of us lead busy lives and it can be difficult for us to think about suddenly being out of circulation for a few days without having any advance planning. Although we certainly do have enough time to plan for labor and delivery, very few of us have much of a warning that it is coming on whenever it does. Typically, there may be up to a four week window where labor and delivery could occur and it would still be considered to be within the safe and normal zone. That is why many parents are looking into elective induction of labor in order to take the guesswork out of the situation.

One of the largest concerns of elective induction of labor are risks, both to the health of the baby and that the health of the mother alike. Whenever this time comes, different hormones within the mother's body are going to trigger something that has occurred naturally for thousands of years. In order to make that occur on command, the mother is going to need some medication to bring on the labor in the first place. There is a lot of concern that this may not be the safest and wisest choice for either the mother or the unborn child. As a matter of fact, the FDA which is notorious for going along with drug companies, actually does not recommend that labor is induced because of these dangers.

If you really do not want to be hit with a surprise of labor and delivery, you might want to consider having a c-section scheduled in advance. Although this is not necessarily going to be something that all mothers will want to go through, it certainly is something that you may want to take into consideration. If it is done properly, a c-section does not cause many problems and they can be done, even before labor begins. Although, it is not a form of elective induction of labor, it certainly is a way for you to be able to schedule this particular event while still keeping the welfare of the unborn child in mind.

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