Ding dong induction time: What are the risks?

Its Christmas season! That means that the trucks of syntocinon are rolling up to the entrances of our maternity units. We are approaching peak season for induction “for dates”.What are the risks of induction that are rarely, if ever, discussed?Listen in to find out more about the risks induction of labour bring to your labour, birth, birth experience, breastfeeding, early parenting and also the risks to your baby, toddler, child and teenager. The studies referred to in this podcast are the following:Grobman WA, Rice MM, Reddy UM, Tita ATN, Silver RM, Mallett G, Hill K, Thom EA, El-Sayed YY, Perez-Delboy A, Rouse DJ, Saade GR, Boggess KA, Chauhan SP, Iams JD, Chien EK, Casey BM, Gibbs RS, Srinivas SK, Swamy GK, Simhan HN, Macones GA; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network. Labor Induction versus Expectant Management in Low-Risk Nulliparous Women. N Engl J Med. 2018 Aug 9;379(6):513-523. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1800566. PMID: 30089070; PMCID: PMC6186292.Dahlen HG, Thornton C, Downe S, de Jonge A, Seijmonsbergen-Schermers A, Tracy S, Tracy M, Bisits A, Peters L. Intrapartum interventions and outcomes for women and children following induction of labour at term in uncomplicated pregnancies: a 16-year population-based linked data study. BMJ Open. 2021 May 31;11(6):e047040. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047040. PMID: 34059509; PMCID: PMC8169493.