It is important that you have all the information when considering inducing labor. Although there are many medications that can do this, inducing labor naturally may be the better alternative for you. The benefits of naturally inducing labor far outweigh the negative aspects of some medications. Before choosing to take a medication, you must first consider all of the risks and side effects it may have on you and/or your baby. Unless you have a pre-existing medical condition that requires medical induction; the natural methods are well worth looking into.



First, you should realize that natural methods for inducing labor work. Therefore, they should never be used during the early trimesters of your pregnancy, and should not be attempted without the approval of your midwife,. Although natural labor methods are powerful, when used appropriately, they have less side effects then medication. Never use natural induction methods during the early months of pregnancy because they could lead to miscarriage.

When you are past 40 weeks pregnant and need to induce labor, natural methods have far less risks when compared to medication. Natural labor inducing methods include acupressure, walking, sexual intercourse, herbs, stripping the membranes, and nipple stimulation. These methods help to start labor through different mechanisms; for example nipple stimulation help increase natural hormones that stimulate labor, such as Oxytocin and Prostaglandins.

Medications used to stimulate labor are synthetic forms of the naturally occurring hormones, Oxytocin and Prostaglandin The brand name form of Oxytocin is Pitocin and the brand name forms of Prostaglandin include Cervidil and Prostin E2. These medications are associated with serious side effects and risks.

First, Pitocin is known for causing uterine contractions that are extremely intense, painful, and last for a long duration. Some other side effects associated with Pitocin include vomiting, nausea, cramping, and stomach pain. More serious side effects have also been reported. These serious side effects and risks include an irregular heartbeat in the mother, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, swelling, headaches, blurred vision, and seizures. There is also a chance that after childbirth the mother may develop severe bleeding.

Unfortunately, Pitocin may also cause serious side effects in your newborn. These include irregular heartbeat, jaundice in the eyes and skin, bleeding in the eyes, and seizures. Notify your doctor immediately if you notice any of these side effects in your child.

Cervidil and Prostin E2 are brand names for the drug, Dinoprostone. Synthetic forms of Prostaglandins, such as these, also have negative side effects. These come in suppository form and when inserted, you must lay down for at least two hours to ensure that he medicine softens the cervix. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat the procedure for up to two days.

Nausea and vomiting are common adverse reactions to Cervidil and Prostin E2. Fever, chills, lightheadedness and dizziness are also common reactions. Some women may develop diarrhea and a fever as well. More serious side effects include trouble or difficulty breathing and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Many pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart disease, kidney and pelvic infections, and diabetes, may increase the occurrence of negative side effects.

If you or your doctors are considering medical labor induction, you need to be aware of the associated risks and negative reactions of these pharmaceuticals. Remember also that the biggest, and probably the most frustrating, risk of chemical labor induction is that it could take days for the labor to start, or it doesn't work at all. Another choice over medication, is using a natural method to induce labor. Most of these methods do not come with the negative side effects.