Decision Making for Elective Induction
Every pregnancy, every birth, and every family is different. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to moving forward with an elective induction. What’s most important is that you have the opportunity to make an informed decision that feels like the best decision for you and your family. Your provider may make a recommendation based on your pregnancy, their comfort level, and the policies in place at their hospital. As the person who is pregnant, you have the right to ask questions, gather information, think about what you’d like to do, and make the choice that feels best for you.
Here are 3 steps you can follow to help you gather information and make your best decision:
1. Talk with your OB or midwife about your options. Ask as many questions as you need in order to fully understand the risks and benefits of your options and to be sure that you’re aware of the variety of options available to you.
Here are some questions you might ask:
What does the process of induction look like?
Is there any way to know how likely I am to have a vaginal birth if I get induced?
Is there a medical indication for me to be induced at this time?
If I’m considering an induction in the near future, might a membrane sweep be something we could try first?
Can we determine my BISHOP score? This is a pre-labor assessment done during a cervical exam to help predict how ready your cervix is for induction. The results can indicate a higher or lower chance of the induction ending in a vaginal birth.
How much time will you be comfortable with me laboring and pushing before suggesting a cesarean?
What is the cesarean rate at my hospital?
2. Talk with your partner and/or your family to decide what feels best for you. You don’t need to make a decision on the spot. After talking with your provider, you can take some time to think about their responses and how you’re feeling. It can be helpful to talk with your husband or partner, do any further research that you need to do, and weigh the pros and cons of your options in light of your preferences.
Here are a few things to consider during this process:
Were you planning an unmedicated, low-intervention birth? How does it feel to shift into a different mode, and perhaps use pain medication?
Are you OK with the potential for a longer labor?
Your hospital’s cesarean rate
Your BISHOP score
Your intuition about what feels best for you
3. Share your decision with your provider. Let them know that you’ve taken all of the information, their recommendation, and your own preferences into consideration and that you’ve made a decision about how to proceed. Try to be open to the potential need for changing your plan and stay flexible as your pregnancy progresses.
