Reasons for Induction of Labor

While many pregnancies go to term and delivery occurs without complications, in some cases conditions may arise that require labor to be induced, or started by artificial means. When expectant mothers receive prenatal care, health care providers can identify issues that might result in the need to induce labor through tests, such as ultrasound, or by tracking indicators such as temperature, blood cell counts and prior medical history.

Uterine Infection

• Amnionitis is a uterine infection that causes symptoms such as tenderness of the uterus, an increased white blood cell count and fever. Because antibiotics cannot treat a uterine infection while the fetus and placenta are inside, a diagnosis of amnionitis means that labor must be induced as soon as possible. Once the baby is delivered, it will receive antibiotics for a minimum of 48 hours, regardless of whether or not symptoms of an infection are present in the newborn.

  In cases of amnionitis, labor is usually induced with medications; Caesarean sections are only performed in cases of fetal distress, because the infection can impact the uterus' ability to contract. According to Healthline.com, some studies suggest that fetal exposure to infection can increase the risk of developing cerebral palsy. While amnionitis can be successfully treated when diagnosed early, recovery can be slow if the uterine muscle is infected-a condition known as endomyometritis.

Overdue Pregnancy

• A pregnancy is deemed as overdue, or post-term, when labor has not started two weeks past the due date. According to the Mayo Clinic's website, overdue pregnancies are more common for women who have had post-term pregnancies in the past, or are having their first child or having a boy. In cases of overdue pregnancy, a woman's doctor may use a fetal monitor or ultrasound to track the baby's movements and measure the amniotic fluid. Once a pregnancy is two weeks past due, labor may be induced, because overdue babies are at greater risk of breathing in fecal waste which can lead to lung problems after birth. The Mayo Clinic notes on its website that labor will usually be induced with medications that cause the cervix to open, followed by synthetic hormones, such as pitocin, that cause uterine contractions.

Amniotic Fluid Abnormalities

• Abnormalities involving amniotic fluid can result in the need to induce labor, according to the March of Dimes. Amniotic fluid is important because it protects the baby and promotes growth of the lungs, bones, muscles and intestines. The March of Dimes notes that in some pregnancies, there can be too much or too little amniotic fluid. At 36 weeks, there should be around one quart, and the amount of amniotic fluid can be measured via ultrasound. When there is not enough amniotic fluid--oligohydramnios--the risks include miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects. Among the causes of a lack of amniotic fluid are overdue pregnancy and health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes in the expectant mother.

  In cases of too much amniotic fluid--polyhydramnios--the mother can have trouble breathing because the uterus is crowding her lungs. Possible complications for the baby include placental abruption, postpartum hemorrhage or stillbirth. Some 20 percent of babies develop a birth defect as a result of excess amniotic fluid, which can result from a fetal infection or an incompatibility between the mother's blood and the fetus' blood.