In many cases it is possible to be at home at the start of the induction process. We will support you if you wish to stay in your own home. This is called an outpatient induction of labour. Being in your own home environment may help you to relax which encourages your body to produce the hormones which help dilate your cervix.
However, it may be that staying in hospital (inpatient Induction) is recommended for you so we can ensure you and your baby are safely monitored throughout.
Inductions are offered at both the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (RIE) and St John’s Hospital (SJH). Sometimes if your booked hospital is too busy, you may be asked to attend the other hospital to ensure we can care for you and your baby in the safest way.
When is it safe to go home?
| With a Cervical Ripening Balloon (CRB) | With a Propess pessary |
| It is usually safe to go home in the following cases: – You are past your due date – You have Gestational Diabetes (GDM) – You have Pelvic Girdle Pain – You had a previous caesarean birth. | It is usually safe to go home in the following cases: – You have a low-risk pregnancy, with no complications – You are between 41 and 42 weeks pregnant |
If you choose to go home, you will be asked to phone the hospital 12 hours after insertion of either the CRB or Propess, to allow us to check how you are and how things are progressing.
We will ask you to return to the hospital after 24 hours. This will be to the antenatal or labour ward where we will offer to assess your progress and plan the next steps of your care.
We advise you to contact the hospital if any of the following happens while you are at home:
- The CRB or Propess fall out
- You have any vaginal bleeding
- You are unable to pass urine (go to the toilet)
- Your waters break
- You are having regular/painful contractions.
- You are concerned about your baby’s movements
- You feel unwell.
For more information: NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) publishes national guidelines for clinical care. To access the guidelines on induction of labour, visit the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.
