Scheduled Induction of Labor

Instruction Sheet

Patient Name:__________________________________________________________

Induction date and time:__________________________________________________

If your induction is scheduled for a morning

You may eat your normal diet the night before and a light breakfast the morning of your induction unless your doctor/midwife has told you different.

Please leave any valuables such as extra cash or jewelry at home. There is no secure place to leave those things in your room.

If your induction is scheduled for an evening

You may eat your normal diet throughout the day and have a light dinner before coming to the hospital.

Induction of labor can be a lengthy process. If your induction is scheduled for evening, you can anticipate sleeping or resting for most of the night. Your labor support person is welcome to stay with you and a pull out bed will be provided for them to sleep on. Please encourage all other visitors to arrive during the regularly scheduled visiting hours of 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. In the event that your labor should progress faster than expected, your additional support person can be notified and issued a night-time visitor pass.

When you arrive at the hospital

1. Please check in at the front desk. They will ask for your insurance information and then direct you to the Women’s Center.

2. Many inductions are started in the evening around 10:00 pm. Please remember to eat a light dinner before coming to the hospital and drink plenty of fluids throughout the day so that you are well hydrated.

3. When you reach the Women’s Center, please press the doorbell on the wall next to the doors. We are a locked unit for the safety of your baby. When the doors unlock, proceed to the nurses’ station where you will be escorted to your room.

4. Once you have settled into your room, you may be asked for a urine sample, your nurse will draw blood and place you on the baby monitor and your IV may be started at that time. The nurse will make an assessment of you and your baby and answer any questions you may still have about the induction process.

5. One of two procedures will be used to induce your labor. Pitocin is given IV in small doses to make your uterus contract. Cytotec is a small tablet that is placed in the vagina to soften the cervix. Cytotec can sometimes also stimulate contractions. Your doctor or midwife will discuss with you which procedure would be appropriate for you.

Occasionally a woman will be admitted to the hospital for labor induction and discover that she is already contracting on her own. If the cervix is also dilated enough, the doctor or midwife may decide not to continue with the induction medication and break the amniotic fluid sack (bag of water) instead. This is considered an augmentation, or stimulation, of labor rather than an induction of labor. Again, your care provider will discuss with you the most appropriate plan of care.

6. Depending on the type of induction you are having, either continuous or intermittent fetal monitoring will be used to keep watch of you and your baby. If continuous monitoring is necessary, you will be in bed or sitting in a chair most of the time. You will be encouraged to change positions frequently and you may get up to go to the bathroom.

7. You may drink water, clear liquids and eat popsicles during your induction.

8. If you are considering using the hydrotherapy tub during labor, don’t forget to have your partner pack swim attire so that they can get in the tub with you if desired.

If it becomes necessary to reschedule your induction

We are unable to predict how many labor patients or births we are going to have on any given day. There are days when we do not have enough hospital beds to accommodate patients who are scheduled for elective procedures such as an elective labor induction. If this happens, the charge nurse at the Women’s Center will contact your doctor or midwife and then you to make arrangements for another scheduled date for your induction. We appreciate your understanding as it is our goal to provide you with a safe and pleasant birthing experience.

Finally

If you have questions or concerns about anything on this information sheet, you may call the Women’s Center charge nurse at 660-831-3253.