induction in leeds
Depending how far along your pregnancy journey you are, you might not have heard of induction. Or, maybe you’re in the middle of deciding if it’s the right path for you and your birth journey. Wherever you are up to, it is highly likely you will have induction offered to you at some point (in Leeds we induce around 38% of births - you can see the current statistics here) so you need to know about it. Induction carries risks and benefits to you and your baby so it is important you are well informed before you make any decisions.
Induction is anything that artificially starts labour. Amongst the most common methods of induction in the UK are:
A rod (inserted to open your cervix to allow the waters to be broken).
Balloon catheter (a device inserted into your vagina to open your cervix by inflating and widening it).
A pessary (inserted into your vagina to soften and open the cervix).
Breaking your waters (manually inserting a hook into the vagina to pierce the amniotic sac).
But did you know that a ‘sweep’ is also a method of induction, which also carries risks? They are often brought up so matter-of-factly that people don’t always realise they are a method of induction.
The majority of birth workers are in agreement that induction is overused in the UK. Midwives are now struggling to attend the required number of physiological births they need to see in order to qualify because of this (Green, 2024).
You may be offered induction for lots of different reasons but remember that hospital trusts have their policies to stick to and that just because they are offering something to you, you do not have to accept it. When you are presented with statements such as ‘increased risk of…’ or ‘this will reduce your risk of…’, I recommend you do your research about what those risks are in actual figures and make your own informed decision. Here are some great places to start:
Why Induction Matters, Rachel Reed
Once you have done your research, you will be able to make informed choices about induction and other interventions in labour. Inductions are sometimes the right path but wouldn’t you prefer for it to feel like a decision you made rather than something you felt was forced upon you?
My courses delve into this topic even further to ensure you are fully prepared to have informed discussions with your healthcare providers on induction and other medical interventions you may be offered. Secure your spot now for just £50 deposit.
Yours,
Rhi x
