One important decision some families face during pregnancy is whether or not to schedule a labor induction. This is when contractions are started artificially using medications or other medical methods to help begin labor.²

In some situations, induction can be medically necessary and may help protect the health of mom, infant, or both.² However, elective inductions that are scheduled without a clear medical reason may come with additional risks and interventions that parents should understand before making a decision.

As a doula, I’ve supported many different birth experiences over the years. While every pregnancy and labor is unique, here are some reasons some families may choose to wait for labor to begin naturally whenever it is safe to do so.

Reasons for Scheduling an Induction

Your healthcare provider might recommend inducing labor for various reasons. For example, here are some reasons to schedule induced labor according to the Mayo Clinic:^7,8

• You’re approaching two weeks beyond your due date, and labor hasn’t started naturally.
• Your water has broken, but you’re not having contractions.
• There’s an infection in your uterus.
• Your baby has stopped growing at the expected pace.
• There’s not enough amniotic fluid surrounding the baby (oligohydramnios).
• Your placenta is calcifying (they may say “getting tired”).
• The placenta peels away from the uterus’s inner wall before delivery — either partially or completely (placental abruption).
• You have a medical condition that might put you or your baby at risk, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Always discuss questions about induction with your healthcare provider.

Can You Wait for Labor To Begin Naturally?

You usually have up to two weeks after your due date, and in some cases, only one week before you are scheduled to be induced.^6,7 The longer your pregnancy continues, the larger your baby is likely to become, which may increase the likelihood of complications during vaginal delivery.⁷ In other cases, aging of the placenta might compromise a baby’s ability to thrive in the womb. An overdue baby is also more likely to inhale fecal waste (meconium) during childbirth, which can cause breathing problems or a lung infection after birth.⁷

Related: 13 Safe and Natural Ways To Induce Labor

Potential Risks of Labor Induction

While inductions can be appropriate and necessary in some situations, it’s important to understand the potential risks and tradeoffs before scheduling one electively.

1. Induction May Increase the Risk of Early Delivery

Studies are showing that babies who are even slightly premature have more problems at birth and beyond.¹ Elective early delivery without a medical reason may increase risks for some babies.¹ In the last few days before the birth of your little one, the final layers of fat are placed, and the lungs receive the finishing touches even as you are going through labor.⁶ All this will help your newborn adjust more comfortably in a change of environment. If you are a first-time mother, your baby will likely be ready to be born eight days after your estimated due date.

2. Your Baby May Experience Heart Decelerations

The medications used to induce labor — oxytocin or prostaglandin — might provoke too many contractions too close together and lead to too strong contractions.^2,9 All this can diminish your baby’s oxygen supply and lower their heart rate.² This causes more interventions to be performed, which then increases your chances of a cesarean section.⁹

3. You May Get an Infection

Some induction methods might increase the risk of infection for both you and your newborn. These include stripping or sweeping the membranes, breaking water, or placing a balloon catheter (also known as a Foley catheter) or seaweed rods into the cervix.^2,10,11,12

Related: The Different Labor Induction Methods

4. Your Labor May Become More Painful and Prolonged

Your contractions may become too long, too strong, and too close together, causing you to be more uncomfortable and tired and potentially putting your baby in distress.^2,7,9

Yes, the medical staff can turn your Pitocin off and/or lower the dosage, but this doesn’t always make the mother feel like the intensity of her contractions has lessened.

5. You May Not Be Ready (Physiologically or Emotionally) To Give Birth

Understanding that hormones will be released from your baby, which actively start labor, puts “waiting until the baby is ready” in a better perspective. In most cases, this will signal the body to begin preparing at the appropriate time.¹³ The body also receives important hormonal signals through this hormone signaling process to aid the body in handling the stresses it will undergo. Inducing labor could cause unnecessary stress on your system and your little one. Additionally, it prevents your body from responding and coping appropriately.^3,6

6. Strong Contractions May Be Stressful for Some Babies

Very strong contractions may sometimes place stress on babies during labor and delivery and affect their ability to breathe.³ Some babies born after complicated labors, difficult deliveries, or early births may require additional medical support inside the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).¹⁴

7. Rare Complications Can Affect Future Pregnancies

Infertility is a rare risk associated with induced labor due to the increased risk of damage to your uterus caused by uterine rupture.^2,15

8. You May Be at Risk of Bleeding Throughout Your Labor and After Childbirth

This happens because of the damage caused to your uterus by the induction drugs, creating a greater difficulty in caring for the new baby, which may make recovery and adjustment after birth more physically and emotionally challenging for some mothers. It’s common to have bloody show during labor and lochia after childbirth, but some inductions may increase the risk of heavier bleeding after birth.²

9. You May Not Be Able To Avoid Pain-Relieving Medication (Like an Epidural)

You may not be able to avoid pain-relieving medication (like an epidural) due to the abnormally increased pain during labor. Some women find induced labor more intense and may choose additional pain relief options. However, not all mothers do! As a birth doula, I have personally helped several women achieve this, but it is still incredibly challenging.

10. Induction May Increase the Likelihood of Additional Interventions

You may have begun your induction with Cervidil to help ripen your cervix, and then gone to Pitocin or Cytotec to help dilate.^4,5

Because of the strong medications to force your cervix to thin and open, multiple narcotic drugs for relieving increased pain are common. This means you may choose an analgesic drug (Nubain, Demerol, Stadol, etc.) or an anesthetic (epidural or spinal block); an epidural is the most common.¹⁷

Then, you need a bladder catheter, continuous fetal monitoring, your blood pressure checked every 15-30 minutes, and potentially an assisted vaginal birth (forceps or the use of a vacuum extractor or even an episiotomy).^18,19 That can be a lot physically and emotionally for some mothers to experience during labor.

Related: Medical Interventions You Might Need During Pushing

11. You Could Have a Uterine Rupture

According to the Mayo Clinic, this rare but serious complication occurs when the baby breaks through the uterus wall into the mother’s abdomen. Cases like this occur in mothers who have a scarred uterus.^2,7 (Women with a previous C-section may have a higher risk of uterine rupture with some induction methods, which is why providers evaluate these situations carefully.¹⁶) You’d need an emergency C-section to prevent life-threatening complications if this happens.^2,7

Reasons to Consider Not Scheduling an Induction

If you don’t induce your labor and allow it to begin normally instead, your:^3,13,20,21

• Contractions may be less painful than they would be with Pitocin.
• Labor may be shorter and more productive. (Your body will be ready for it!)
• Your newborn may be able to breathe better.
• Health costs associated with your birth may be reduced.
• Need for pain medication may be less, which helps save you money.
• Delivery may be shorter.
• Recovery may be faster.
• Baby (and you) may be healthier as a result.
• Your little one may breastfeed more easily.
• Ability to bond and attach to your new baby may be easier.

Final Thoughts on Scheduling an Induction

Inducing labor is a serious decision. If it’s medically necessary, do it! But if you are just tired of being pregnant, or you want your baby born on a specific date, or your family or doctor will be in town, it might not be worth it in the long run. Every birth story is different, but being informed gives you the power to make the choice that’s right for you and your baby. Work with your healthcare provider to make the best choice for you and your baby. In my experience working with hundreds of mothers at their births, avoiding unnecessary induction may help support a gentler labor and delivery experience for some families!

Every pregnancy and labor experience is different, and there is no single approach that is right for everyone. The ultimate goal is always a healthy mom and healthy baby, regardless of how labor begins.