{"id":10157,"date":"2021-03-02T04:24:24","date_gmt":"2021-03-02T09:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10157\/how-to-induce-labor\/"},"modified":"2025-01-06T17:24:11","modified_gmt":"2025-01-06T22:24:11","slug":"how-to-induce-labor","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/10157\/how-to-induce-labor\/","title":{"rendered":"How to induce labor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy might be only 40 weeks long, but it can feel like a century, especially on the home stretch. And when you’ve reached 39 weeks, 40 weeks, or beyond, you might start getting impatient \u2014 which is understandable.<\/p>\n

Not only are you likely becoming increasingly uncomfortable, but you’re also probably excited to meet your bundle of joy. If you’re like a lot of pregnant folks, you might be thinking, “If only there were a way to make this go faster.”<\/p>\n

As it turns out, there might be a few ways. You can be medically induced when necessary. You can also try several “natural” induction strategies at home. While most of the latter options aren’t backed by science, most are okay to try in a low-risk pregnancy. Here’s what you should know.<\/p>\n

When and how do healthcare providers induce labor?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Around 30% of all births in the U.S. are induced. While waiting for Baby to declare their birthday is ideal for healthy pregnancies, there are many reasons why induction of labor may be recommended. In some cases, pregnancy complications arise that put you and\/or baby at increased risk, and this may mean that giving birth is the safest intervention. If vaginal birth is the plan, induction of labor is the way to get there before labor has started all on its own.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some different ways healthcare providers can medically induce labor.<\/p>\n