Labor augmentation is done if your labor is not progressing very well. The healthcare provider may do this if labor isn’t coming along or forcefully  enough to dilate the cervix to help move the baby down the birth canal.

How is labor augmentation done ?

Before this procedure , your doctor will assess your contractions. He will also check if the cervix is thinned out and dilated as well how low the baby has descended.  He will also monitor how well the baby  can tolerate stronger contractions  by monitoring the heart beat with contractions.

If he determines that augmentation is appropriate, you will be given a drug know as oxytocin through an IV.  Your practitioner will start off with a small dose and gradually increase it until the uterus responds appropriately. How much of the oxytocin you will need depends on the following :

• quality of contractions so far
• sensitivity of your uterus to the drug
• how dilated the cervix is
• how far along you are in pregnancy

During this process, the practitioner will use continuous electronic fetal monitoring to keep an eye on your baby  and contractions.

What are the side effects of oxytocin ?

The most common problem is over stimulation of the uterus. This happens if the dose is too high  and as a result causes  problems with the baby’s heart rate. If this happens , your practitioner can resolve the problem by lowering the dose or temporarily stopping the infusion. She can also give you drugs to relax your uterus more rapidly  then start the medication again at a lower dose.

Sometimes a baby  cant tolerate the stress of an effective contraction.  This can also happen with contractions stimulated by oxytocin.  In this case , the doctor will turn off the medication and you will deliver the baby by cesarean.

Your doctor may also try to get your labor along more quickly by rapturing your membrane if it isn’t already broken. Your doctor will consider this based on the following :

• how much you are dilated
• how low your baby is in the pelvis
• whether you need internal fetal monitoring
• your risk for infection