So many pregnant women are met with conversations surrounding induction during pregnancy and it can be extremely confronting and overwhelming. As the rates of induction continue to increase with little to no effect on infant and maternal morbidity and mortality rates, we do need to question whether all these inductions are actually necessary.

If you're finding it difficult or confusing to navigate conversations with your care provider surrounding induction, if you're after some more information, and particularly if you want to know what the evidence says about induction of labour, then this is absolutely the podcast for you. Midwife Em is joined by the incredibly experienced and knowledgable Professor Hannah Dahlen as they discuss:

Hannah also gives us a great insight into some of her research findings published in 2021 (see below) which looked at outcomes for low-risk first time mothers, including whether inductions impacted rates of Caesarean sections, postpartum haemorrhage, episiotomies, vacuum/forceps births, third/fourth degree tears, and the rates of vaginal birth. Hannah also touches on the US ARRIVE Trial study, and why the findings may not be exactly as they seem.

This is an extremely open and honest conversation about the ever increasing rate of unnecessary inductions, though it's also important to note that both Em and Hannah agree that there is a time and place for induction of labour. The key thing is acknowledging the necessity and right for women and their families to be given the opportunity to have open and honest conversations with their care providers, free from coercion and scare tactics, in order to make a decision that is best fore them.

If you would like to read more of Hannah's research surrounding induction of labour, here is the link to her incredible study.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/6/e047040

Dahlen HG, Thornton C, Downe S, et alIntrapartum interventions and outcomes for women and children following induction of labour at term in uncomplicated pregnancies: a 16-year population-based linked data studyBMJ Open 2021;11:e047040. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047040.

You can also find Hannah on instagram at @hannah.dahlen.

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