Over 30% of pregnant parents have their labours synthetically induced and that number is rising steadily each year. Induction of labour is used for situations such as a diagnosis of gestational diabetes, suspected big babies, over-due pregnancies and growth restricted babies.

As the rate of this intervention increases, Dr Rachel Reed, midwife and academic from the Univ. of the Sunshine Coast believes it is worth some close examination to make sure we're getting the best possible outcomes from it. Rachel discusses the risks, how it works, what can help a woman's decision making process and how she can 'own' her induction should she choose it.

Rachel has recently published a book "Why Induction Matters".

Interview recorded on 24 July 2019.

Rachel also mentions the UK's NICE Guidelines on how women should be informed of the risks of induction, which is a useful guidance for any family and health service to follow. https://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/induction-of-labour

We also hear briefly from Dr Sarah Buckley about the physiology required for induction to work (recorded at the Midwifery Today conference 2014).

Produced and presented by Sally Cusack
Copyright PBB Media and Sally Cusack 2019
www.pbbmedia.org

Our thanks to Dr Rachel Reed and Dr Sarah Buckley

First aired on 99.9 BayFM Byron Bay Australia on 29 July 2019.