The number of pregnant women who delivered via induced labor more than doubled in the last decade, a trend that has implications not only for the health status of newborns and their mothers, but also for the nation’s health care costs. To help women and their health care providers understand the potential pros and cons of choosing induced labor, AHRQ has produced two free, evidence-based research summary guides. Thinking About Inducing Your Labor: A Guide for Pregnant Women, clearly explains induced labor – the use of medicine or other methods to get labor started – while offering women reasons why they may or may not want to choose the procedure over waiting for traditional childbirth. A companion guide for clinician, Elective Induction of Labor: Safety and Risks, includes a summary of the clinical evidence on the safety of elective induction of labor versus waiting, and also offers information about maternal and fetal outcomes with elective induction. Print copies are available by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
