The most used method for induction in normal delivery is the
oxytocin method. Oxytocin is normally a hormone secreted in the brain of the
female body and provides uterine contractions. It is the oxytocin hormone
secreted from the pituitary region in the brain that causes the uterus
contractions and progression of the mother in non-artificial births.
How is
oxytocin administered for induced labor?
The most common form of use is to enter the serum and give it
as an intravenous infusion through a vascular access in the mother's arm. The
rate of progression of serum is important when administering oxytocin, this
speed is adjusted with small apparatus in the serum set or electronic pump
tools and applied to a certain amount of oxytocin per minute. In some cases, it
can be applied from the very beginning of birth, and in some cases it can be
applied at any stage of birth. It may not always last until the end of the
birth and the serum is stopped according to changes in the baby's heartbeat or
when the mother's uterine contractions are high.
Are there
more birth pains with induced labor?
This is a concept that can change according to the pain
perception threshold of every expectant mother. While some mothers do not feel
much pain even if they take artificial pain, some mothers may feel more pain or
vice versa. The oxytocin drug given by artificial pain is the same oxytocin
hormone produced in the mother's own body. If epidural anesthesia is applied,
the mother does not feel birth pain, whether or not she has artificial pain.
Other birth
induction methods:
Apart from oxytocin, there are some rarely used methods to
stimulate uterine contractions and to soften, thin and open the cervix. These:
-
Amniotomy: Opening the baby's water bladder. It is a widely used method
for the acceleration of birth.
- Membrane
stripping: Finger peeling of the membranes in the cervix is also a
common method.
-
Prostaglandin E1 (misoprostol) and E2 (dinoprostone): These are
the most frequently applied drugs after oxytocin today. They are applied orally
or by putting them in the vagina. Available in tablet, gel or ovule forms.
Things to
consider before starting induced labor:
Induced labor is not a method that can be applied for every
birth. The suitability of the mother and baby for various factors should be
evaluated in terms of suitability for induction and presence of need. These:
- Fetal well-being: NST, ultrasonography, doppler,
biophysical profile are used to evaluate the baby's well-being and heartbeat,
and evaluate whether the condition of the baby is suitable for induced labor.
- Conditions such as uterine surgery that the mother had
previously may prevent her from taking artificial pain. Induced labor is not
applied to those who had previous cesarean delivery.
- Uterine contractions of the mother, that is, contractions,
are measured with probes started on the abdomen with a cardiotocograph device,
and if the mother's own contractions and pains are sufficient, induced labor is
not applied additionally.
- If the condition of the cervix, that is, the cervix, is not
suitable for the application of artificial pain, artificial pain is not
started. First of all, other methods can be applied to adapt the cervix. If the
Bishop score is 4 or below, artificial pain often fails.
- Gestational week is early for birth and the baby has enough
lung development etc. If it is thought that it has not reached, induced labor is
not applied. However, it can be applied in some situations that necessarily
require birth.