Augmentation of labour

More information Obstetric interventions Induction Active management Prostaglandins Artificial membrane rupture Fetal monitoring Forceps delivery Ventouse Episiotomy Caesarean section Cascade of Intervention Reference Material A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Birth Pursuing the Birth Machine Obstetric Myths versus Research Realities Care in Normal Birth The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth Other Resources Useful Websites

When is it necessary?

• If the labour slows down and there is evidence that the prolonged labour is jeopardising the baby's well-being.
• If the labour slows down as a side effect of epidural anaesthesia, artificial oxytocin must be given to help re-establish the contractions.

How is it done?
A drip is set up in the same way as for an induction, but after labour has started naturally. If labour slows down following an epidural, then Syntocinon is given to the mother via the drip that has been set up as part of the epidural procedure.

Effects on the mother
Advantages:

1.

Makes labour shorter and may reduce maternal exhaustion from a long labour.

Disadvantages:

	1.	The labour may be more painful and stressful due to unnaturally long contractions coming at frequent intervals, giving little time to rest.
	2.	Increased need for pain relieving drugs, for example pethidine or an epidural. Having an epidural may slow labour, resulting in the need for increased levels of Syntocinon.
	3.	Over-riding the body's natural levels of oxytocin will decrease sensitivity to natural oxytocin production post-partum and could pose problems in establishing lactation.

Effects on the baby
Advantages:

1.

The baby will be born sooner.

Disadvantages:

	1.	The increased intensity of contractions may cause fetal distress due to reduced oxygen supply during long contractions with little recovery time between. This may necessitate further interventions, such as forceps or Caesarean, if the problem is severe.
	2.	Increased likelihood of jaundice developing caused by the presence of drugs, (e.g. Syntocinon, pethidine) in the baby's system after birth which have to be metabolised and eliminated at the same time as the extra red blood cells all babies have after birth
	3.	An assisted birth and/or large amounts of analgesic drugs may interfere with the baby's breathing at birth and cause weak sucking reflexes.
	4.	Early separation of mother and baby if any of these problems are severe.