Yes, Your Induction Can Be Placed on Hold

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022 BY JULIANA PARKER, RNC-OB, C-EFM, CLE

Edited by the amazing Stormy McNeal, Copywriter and Content Writer

It’s induction day!  You have picked this day and planned physically, and mentally, to deliver your baby.  Time has been scheduled off, your favorite doctor is selected, your induction appointment has been provided. All you have left to do is show up.

It’s 3pm, two hours prior to your induction when… your cell phone rings. It’s the hospital notifying you that your induction is being placed on hold. Your big day, the day you’ve been waiting on for weeks, is on hold.

Wait. What?

Your mind is spinning. How can this be? We had an appointment! Our doctor SCHEDULED us! Is the nurse not aware I have an appointment? I took off vacation time, my mother is finally in town, and now I don’t know if I will deliver before she leaves. What do I do?

• • • What is an Induction

    • The Dreaded Induction Hold

    • Why Inductions are Placed on Hold

    • Minimizing Surprises in Labor

WHAT IS AN INDUCTION

Let’s backtrack just a little and review what an induction is. An induction is when you come to the hospital and medicine is administered to assist you with going into labor.  If on the day of induction, your cervix is at least 2 centimeters dilated, then you will only need Pitocin.  Alternatively, if your cervix is less than 2 centimeters dilated then you will need cervical ripening.

There are different reasons for inductions, both for health reasons and other reasons.

Medical Inductions

Inductions are scheduled for various reasons. Medical reasons would include pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, low amniotic fluid levels (aka oligohydramnios), high amniotic fluid levels (polyhydramnios), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) as well as other medical conditions. If you are scheduled for a medical reason, your gestational age does not matter, if it is medically indicated, your doctor will determine your induction date based on the severity of the condition and the safest time to induce you.

Elective Inductions

Inductions are also scheduled for elective reasons, meaning, some people want a certain day or a certain doctor or are simply tired of being pregnant so choose to be induced. Sometimes patients choose to be induced based on when they can arrange childcare for their other children or when their boss can approve maternity leave.  If you are being electively induced, then you have to be at least 39 weeks pregnant.

THE DREADED INDUCTION HOLD

I have made calls to patients notifying them of the hold, and I can tell you it is never received very well. I’ve been yelled at, cussed at and no matter how much a patient may scream, it won’t bring them to the hospital any sooner.

WHY INDUCTIONS ARE PLACED ON HOLD

You and your baby’s safety is our number one priority. Always. For the most part, labor and delivery is an amazing experience that you will remember fondly for years. This is the birth of your child we’re talking about here. Nothing will ever be able to top the experience of birthing your child and holding them for the first time.

But rarely, and please keep in mind these are rare events, labor and delivery can lead to emergencies.

If an emergency occurs, it is possible that mother or baby are at risk. This means, every staff member needs to assist so we can ensure the best chance for both you and your newborn.

Since we have no idea when laboring patients will arrive, it can be a little tricky. If you are scheduled for an induction at 5:00pm and during the 3pm-4pm hours four laboring mothers arrive, it may be necessary to place your induction on hold until we can evaluate them. We need to ensure the unit is safe enough to start your labor.  If we determine these patients are not in labor, you will likely be called in soon.

Why Inductions are Placed on Hold

However, if we determine that they are all in labor, it is possible we may have to delay you until one or two of them deliver their babies. We cannot risk another mother’s active labor delayed for a mother whose labor hasn’t started yet.

To better help you understand, imagine going into labor and there’s an open room. But when you arrive, you’re told that the room has been reserved for an induction. This woman isn’t in labor, and you are, but now there isn’t room for you to give birth in the hospital. It’s this very situation we want to avoid.

Sometimes it is a space issue and sometimes it is a staffing issue. There is always a chance your induction may be placed on hold. Feel reassured knowing, it’s just a delay, not a cancellation. You will be called in as soon as we are able to safely accommodate you. Please note: medical inductions will always be called prior to elective inductions.

MINIMIZING SURPRISES IN LABOR

I am an advocate for positive delivery experiences.  When I prepare my students in my Master Childbirth Class, I do so by sharing many of these types of unexpected surprises to help you have the best day possible. My job is to help the birth of your child be as easy, safe, and magical as possible.

I am an actively practicing labor and delivery nurse with over 18 years of experience, so you can rest assured you’re being taught by someone who knows what they’re doing. My classes are information packed and will leave you feeling confident and prepared for your labor and delivery.

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