To make an informed decision—either informed consent or informed refusal—women need to know the value of waiting for labor to start on its own. In the last weeks of pregnancy, maternal antibodies are passed to the baby—antibodies that will help fight infections in the first days and weeks of life. The baby gains weight and strength, stores iron, and develops more coordinated sucking and swallowing abilities. His lungs mature, and he stores brown fat that will help him maintain body temperature in the first days and weeks following birth. The maturing baby and the aging placenta trigger a prostaglandin increase that softens the cervix in readiness for effacement and dilatation. A rise in estrogen and a decrease in progesterone increase the uterine sensitivity to oxytocin. The baby moves down into the pelvis. Contractions in the last weeks may start the effacement and dilation of the cervix. A burst of energy helps pregnant women make final preparations, and insomnia prepares them for the start of round-the-clock parenting. Induction alters the process of labor and birth in significant ways. The cervix often needs to be softened before pitocin (synthetic oxytocin) will be effective. Pitocin causes contractions that both peak and become stronger more quickly than naturally occurring contractions. The result is a labor that is more difficult to manage. In addition, the uterine muscle never totally relaxes between contractions, increasing stress on both the uterus and the baby. Because of the increased risk to your uterus and the baby an electronic fetal monitoring is now introduced. Unless there is a clear medical indication that induction of labor will do more good than harm, nature beats science hands down. For both mothers and babies, it is safe and wise to wait patiently until labor begins on its own. Source: J Perinat Educ. 2006 Spring; 15(2): 43–45 #laborinduction #blackmaternalmentalhealth #blackmamas #birthdisparities #birthoutcomes #informedconsent #informedrefusal #naturalchildbirth #birthassistant #blackdoula #blackbirthstories #tribeofsuns #sisters https://www.instagram.com/p/CDEsUVLgfG6/?igshid=wkgv7sitr8k3