Labaor may be induced by drugs when it doesn't begin naturally or becomes stalled or when the life of the mother or baby is threatened if labor doesn't occur soon. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) does not recommend labor induction unless it is riskier for a baby to stay in the womb than to be born via induction. AmericanPregnancy.org suggests that doctors may rupture the amniotic sac, or the membranes commonly called the "bag of waters," to initiate labor before medications are used. Some women may begin with a cervix-ripening drug followed by the rupturing of membranes before labor-inducing drugs are administered.
Pitocin
Pitocin is a synthetic form of the human hormone oxytocin. Pitocin is given via intravenous injection (IV). The amount administered is gradually increased until monitors placed on the mother's abdomen show adequate contractions. PregnancyandBaby.SheKnows.com explains that adequate labor constitutes three contractions within a 10-minute period. Pitocin can cause rapid and strong contractions that may or may not be more intense than natural labor contractions. The idea behind forced contractions is that the baby will be moved further down the birth canal and will help dilate the cervix and eventually exit the vagina.
Dinoprostone
Dinoprostone, a prostaglandin, is one form of vaginal suppository used to help dilate or ripen the cervix. When the cervix is fully dilated the baby can exit the vagina. Repeated contractions with a fully closed cervix constitutes unproductive labor, meaning the baby is being pushed down the birth canal but cannot make its way out. The bag of waters often breaks when it is pushed against the cervical opening. Without a ripened cervix this may not happen as quickly or naturally. Dinoprostone is inserted into the vagina near the cervix and left for 12 hours before the string attached to the applicator is removed by a medical professional. The hope is that the drug will stimulate the cervix to thin.
Other Prostaglandin Suppositories
Other forms of prostaglandin suppositories or gels are inserted beside or in the cervix to help ripen the cervix. Unlike dinoprostone, these types do not have an applicator device that remains inside the vagina for several hours. These suppositories contain prostaglandin e2 (PGE2), a specific type of prostaglandin. PGE2 suppositories must be melted in order to be applied to the cervix, unlike dinoprostone. The gel can be applied directly on the cervix every 6 hours until sufficient progress has been made to induce labor. The side effects of PGE2 drugs include fever, diarrhea and nausea. Misoprostol is a PGE1 (prostaglandin e1) suppository that has lower likelihood of adverse side effects than PGE2 drugs. Misoprostol comes as a tablet and is placed beside the cervix in a dose of 25, 50, or 100mcg and replaced every 3 or 4 hours, according to PregnancyandBaby.SheKnows.com.
