Nowadays, with modern medicine and technology to assist us, we can choose how and when to give labor. A woman may choose to schedule her labor due to various personal or health reasons. She can choose to go for an induction or a caesarean section.
Of course, the doctor’s consent is necessary before the labor is induced. In cases involving health risks, the doctor will be the one to advice to induce or schedule a labor. An example of a health problem is if the mother has pre-eclampsia, a blood pressure problem or she has diabetes or other medical conditions; the doctor may advice to go for a planned delivery. If a pregnancy is overdue (over 42 weeks) and the placenta is observed to be not functioning well, then this is a good reason to have one.
photo credit: *clairity*
A woman may also request for a scheduled delivery for practical reasons. For example, her partner may be working long distance most of the time and therefore, a fix date for delivery is practical.
Choosing an auspicious date and time
The Chinese can be very particular about when to give birth. For example, they will try to avoid giving birth during the hungry ghost month. If they are believers of feng shui, then they may also tend to choose an auspicious date and time to give birth rather than waiting for nature to take its course.
What is the procedure for an induction?
An induction means the doctor starts the process of labor using superficial methods. The methods may include sweeping the amniotic membranes, breaking the water bag, applying prostaglandin gels or suppositories or by administering an oxytocin drip. There are also natural ways to induce labor according to housewives tales such as making love or having sex, consuming castor oil, drinking coconut water or raspberry leaf tea or by nipple stimulation.
There are risks involved when a woman decides to go for a planned induction or c-section. This will be covered in Part II of the same title.