Occasionally, a variation of the 1st stage of labour can lead to interventions changing the course of your labour and birth, and at times requiring a Caesarean operation. The most frequently experienced variations can include:
Unsuccessful induction
Slow progress in the 1st stage of labour
Fetal distress
Unsuccessful induction
The success of an induction will depend on a number of things, such as the woman's body being 'ready' for labour and the type of induction method that is used. Medical methods of induction can be mechanical (such as breaking the waters) or involve medications (such as an oxytocin drip). If the decision is made to induce the labour, then the chosen method(s) will usually depend on:
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The ripeness of the woman's cervix. |
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Whether it is her first, or subsequent baby. |
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Why the induction has been recommended. |
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The caregiver's preferences. |
The woman's body will usually be more responsive the more overdue she is. Ideally, the induction will be performed after 41 weeks of the pregnancy (unless health complications mean the induction is required earlier). The woman's readiness is usually judged on how ripe her cervix is (this is discussed in depth in
Class 4). The ripeness of the cervix is estimated using a system called the 'Bishop's Score'. The Bishop's score is based on the caregiver feeling the woman's cervix and giving it a 'score'. The higher the score, the riper (or more favourable) her cervix is.
The riper the woman's cervix the more responsive it will be to open when the contractions start. An 'unripe' or 'unfavourable' cervix is often one that is not ready to respond to labour contractions.