Overdue baby & induction of labour: what to expect

What’s happening if your baby is overdue

If your baby is overdue, your baby is still likely to be going well, even at 41 weeks of pregnancy. On the other hand, you might be tired, uncomfortable – and ready to meet your baby.

During this time, your midwife or doctor will probably recommend regular tests to check on your health and your baby’s health. These tests might include an ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid index and an ultrasound to check your baby’s biophysical profile.

These tests can help you and your doctor to decide on the safest options for you and your baby.

If the tests show that your baby is fine and your health is good, you might choose to wait and see whether labour starts naturally. It’s uncommon for babies to die unexpectedly, even after 42 weeks of pregnancy.

In some situations, your midwife or doctor might suggest an induction of labour or a caesarean birth.

Your baby’s movements should be regular and strong. If you notice a change in your baby’s movements or you’re at all worried, call your midwife, doctor or local maternity hospital straight away.

What is an induction?

Induction of labour is when your midwife or doctor uses drugs or special techniques to get your labour to start.

Induction of labour is common and usually happens in a hospital.

Why you might need an induction

Your midwife or doctor might recommend induction of labour in these situations:

You’re 41 weeks pregnant or more.
You have health concerns, like gestational diabetes or pre-eclampsia.
Your placenta isn’t supplying as much oxygen and as many nutrients to your baby as it was.
Your baby is unwell, or there are changes to your baby’s heart rate or growth.
Your waters have broken, but you haven’t started to have contractions.
Your labour has started but is progressing too slowly.
There are other concerns about you or your baby.

How to decide about an induction

You’ll be able to make the best decisions when you have the right information about your health and your baby’s health.

If you feel you need to know more, it’s important to ask a member of your health care team about:

why the midwives and doctors think you need an induction of labour
what the risks and benefits of an induction are for you and your baby
what could happen if your baby isn’t induced and you wait for labour to start by itself
what the midwives and doctors will do during induction, including how they’ll care for you and your baby
how long it will take to do an induction
how long it will take for labour to start after an induction
how your contractions might feel or change once labour starts.

Once you have all this information, you might still choose to ‘wait and see’ whether labour starts naturally.

If you decide that you don’t want an induction, talk with your midwife or doctor so they can try to support your choices. They can also give you more information and help you to understand your situation, so that you can make a fully informed decision.

How is labour induced?

If you choose to go ahead with an induction of labour, your midwife or doctor will do a vaginal examination to feel whether your cervix is ready for labour.

This check can be a bit uncomfortable, but it should take only a few minutes.

If your cervix isn’t ready for labour, your midwife or doctor will usually recommend a method of induction that’s like the natural hormones that bring on labour. Or they might suggest a procedure to soften or open your cervix, or a combination of both.

It’s important to ask your midwife or doctor about all your options and decide together on the best options for you.

Common induction procedures

Some pregnant women feel fine about being induced, whereas others feel disappointed or sad that labour didn’t start by itself. Whatever your feelings, it can help to talk them through with your partner, family, friends and health care professionals.

Possible disadvantages of induction

Sometimes an induction won’t work in getting your body to go into labour.

There are also some other common disadvantages of induced labour at term.

More uncomfortable or painful labour

Sometimes contractions can be more painful so there’s a higher chance that you’ll need extra pain relief like an epidural.

Also, your baby’s heartbeat will be monitored with special equipment during your labour. Depending on the equipment, it can be harder for you to move around or use the bath or shower for pain relief.

Higher chance of interventions

If you have an epidural, this can increase the chance that you’ll need help to birth your baby. This might include forceps or vacuum.

Also, your chance of having a caesarean section is higher if it’s your first baby.

More risk for you

Your chance of having above-average blood loss after birth is higher.

It’s natural to be thinking about these disadvantages and how you’ll cope during labour. Talk to a member of your health care team so that you feel comfortable you’re making the right decision for yourself and your baby.