Among the most wonderful experiences, a woman can have are Pregnancy and childbirth. When you discover that induction is going to be part of your birthing journey, you should make sure that you know the dos and don’ts before being induced, so you are well-prepared.

It is important that you feel honored and respected throughout the labor process and the outcomes of your labor experience. This is true whether you made the decision to have an induction or not.

Many times, you will be wondering if there are other things you should know, or if you are doing everything you are supposed to do in order to have a positive experience.

Trying to figure out what questions you should ask when you don\’t even know what to ask can leave you feeling overwhelmed and helpless.

Why Would Someone have an Induction of Labor?

Induction of labor means the person is not experiencing a cervical change, so medication is used to get the body to the point of labor. Generally, inductions are performed to maintain the safety and health of both mother and baby.

Are you going in for your induction? When your doctor schedules an induction, the first thing to do is to ask them why they\’re suggesting it and what method they’ll use.

Ask them if they will be using Pitocin, or planning on using a pill? Go as far as asking where the pill would go.

 What you should do before your Induction of Labor

1.     Plan Child Care

For parents with other kids, have someone watch your other children while you go in for your induction. If possible, have that person be available for a couple of days, just in case you need to be in the hospital with the baby longer.

2.      Eat Something

Make sure you eat something; you will need all the energy to give birth and usually, you are not allowed to eat when you get to the hospital depending on what time your induction is scheduled to be.

Eat a nutritious meal to help you have energy during labor

3.     Bring Postpartum Supplies

Make sure you bring in the supplies you will need after giving birth. Regardless of whether you have a C-section or vaginal delivery, you will need supplies to keep your bottom healthy after you give birth.

You are going to need some large pads, as well as some comfortable clothes, such as nursing tops and pajamas.

4.     Get the Car Seat Ready

Before you drive to the hospital for your induction, install your baby’s car seat in your car. If you or your partner cannot install the seat, find out where you can have the seat installed. Keep in mind that the nurses at the hospital cannot install the car seat for you for legal reasons, so do it before you arrive at the hospital.

5.     Pack your Bag

Pack your hospital bag for you, your partner, and your baby. Think about what you will need before and after giving birth. Make everything easy to access in case your partner has to look for something in your bag for you. Even before you are informed of the induction, packing your bags early makes things easier and less stressful than when you have to pack just before you leave.

Don’t forget to bring a phone charger so you can take lots of pictures and make those zoom calls with family and friends.

6.    What to do the Night before being Induced

• Sleep

Often, women don’t get enough sleep the night before their scheduled induction. Getting a good night’s sleep before your induction will be really helpful because chances are this will be your last night to sleep well for a while. You can ask your doctor if there is anything they can recommend that will help you to get a good night\’s sleep before your induction.

RELATED: 8 Pregnancy Fears: How to Overcome Them

What you Should NOT do before your Induction:

1.     Do not go in Uninformed 

The most common mistake women make in induction is going in uninformed. Having more information will help you make better decisions. The same applies to any kind of birth.

It doesn’t mean that you have to know every detail about labor and inductions in particular, but rather that you are aware of how inductions are usually done.

As well as learning the risks and benefits of the different interventions that can be used to perform an induction.

Become familiar with the pros and cons of the interventions you may need to make, and the questions you should ask to help you make informed decisions.

2.     Never value the comfort of your healthcare provider over your Own

One of the first things you should not do is to put the comfort of your care providers above your own preferences.

It isn’t uncommon for women to avoid disagreeing with their doctors at the expense of their birth experience; because they didn’t want to cause anyone discomfort or inconvenience.

They ended up accepting interventions they didn\’t understand or didn\’t want and handed over their authority willingly or unwillingly.

3.     Do not feel forced or pressured into getting an induction

You and your healthcare provider are working together to make sure you have the best birth experience. Despite this, it is not uncommon for women to feel that this decision is not theirs, but rather that of their doctor. You should not feel obligated to proceed with this if you do not feel included in the decision-making.

It is also important to remember that the most healthy and safest births usually occur when a woman gives birth on her own.

There is no need to induce a person unless either the baby or the mother is in danger of health complications.

As a result of not feeling forced, you are sure that you had your say in the matter and made the right choice when it came to induction. You know you have your baby\’s best interests at heart. 

It is always important to feel comfortable and confident, thus, you should never feel forced into making a decision that you are not comfortable with.

4.     Never keep quiet

To be informed and to work with your care team, you should voice your concerns and preferences, get your questions answered, and own your birth experience.

Women often remark that they wish they could have advocated for themselves or that they had someone to advocate for them. It may be too challenging in the heat of labor to express your concerns or advocate for your preferences. If possible, consider having a Doula. A Doula is an excellent option to help you maintain open communication with your care provider.

In order to have a positive experience of childbirth, it is crucial to be in control of the decision-making. To achieve this, you must not be silent, but instead, use your voice to ask questions or express concerns.

Women should remember that a birth experience is one they will live with for the rest of their lives. There’s nothing worse than a story that involves a birth trauma. Make sure you feel honored and respected in your role as authority during the birth experience.

You deserve to have your preferences heard and taken into account. When making decisions about your baby’s birth, you and your care provider should be on the same team in order to ensure a safe, healthy, and positive experience.

5.     Don’t be afraid to change your plan

Just as it is important to have a birth plan, it is also important to not be afraid to change it. As you discuss your preferences regarding interventions that might be necessary to attain your goal of giving birth, consider your preferred pain management options, how you would like the environment set up for you and how much help you would be willing to receive from your team, including your nurses.

It is not uncommon for women to change their plans before going into labor or in the middle of labor.

Keep in mind that most plans can be altered if made before you go into labor, however, some plans, especially those relating to pain management interventions, may not be changed based on how far along in the process of labor you are.

Final thought

Induction is a medical necessity, unfortunately, one of the realities of pregnancy is that although it can be one of the most amazing parts of someone’s life, it can also be a scary and dangerous time.

For instance, if a baby is not getting the nutrients and other things they need, this could increase their likelihood of stillbirth. 

Another reason for an induction might be because a pregnant woman has a complication that affects her health or the health of her baby.

Every woman should be involved in the decisions made about their pregnancy.

If you have a procedure is suggested by your health care provider, you should feel comfortable discussing that procedure in detail and ask questions, so you understand why that procedure is necessary.

I hope these dos and don’ts before being induced will be helpful in your birthing journey