{"id":1842,"date":"2025-09-03T14:32:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T13:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/?page_id=1842"},"modified":"2025-09-03T14:43:25","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T13:43:25","slug":"helping-you-make-a-decision","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/all-about-birth\/induction-of-labour\/helping-you-make-a-decision\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping you make a Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your midwife or doctor will explain why induction of labour is being offered to you and will discuss what options you have. Always remember in most cases there is room for discussion about when the best time for induction would be, or whether it would be safe to just wait a bit longer to see if your labour begins spontaneously.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things to consider and discuss with your midwife or doctor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your personal and medical circumstances<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your preferences for where to give birth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keeping mobile in labour and birth positions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How induction may make labour more painful<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your preferred options for pain relief<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How induction may increase interventions (vaginal examinations and instrumental or caesarean birth)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:20% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rcog.org.uk\/for-the-public\/browse-our-patient-information\/considering-a-caesarean-birth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\" noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"798\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-02-163324.png\" alt=\"Screenshot 2025 09 02 163324\" class=\"wp-image-4860 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-02-163324.png 580w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-02-163324-218x300.png 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re considering a caesarean birth, this resource from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) offers clear, evidence-based information to support your decision-making. Please see\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rcog.org.uk\/for-the-public\/browse-our-patient-information\/considering-a-caesarean-birth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the full RCOG guide on caesarean birth<\/a>\u00a0for more information.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your decision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The decision to have an induction or to wait is yours and will be respected. If you do not want to have an induction at this time, you will be invited to attend a clinic or the hospital for monitoring to check how you and your baby are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember that you can think \u2018BRAIN\u2019 to ask questions at any point and discuss what the best option would be for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><div class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-host wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover\"><a class=\"wpcp-wp-lightbox-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/11\/MVP-brain.png\" data-wpcp-wp-lb-image=\"1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"590\" height=\"393\" src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/11\/MVP-brain.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/11\/MVP-brain.png 590w, https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/11\/MVP-brain-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/11\/MVP-brain.png\" data-fancybox=\"wpcp-wp-img-1452\" class=\"wpcp-lightbox-trigger wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon wpcp-position-top-right wpcp-advanced-image-lightbox-icon-hover wpcp-global-lightbox-icon wpcp-lightbox-icon--global wpcp-lb-icon-style-default\" data-wpcp-lb-icon-source=\"global\" aria-label=\"Open image in lightbox\" data-thumb-src=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2022\/11\/MVP-brain-300x200.png\" data-wpcp-lb-single=\"1\"><span class=\"wpcp-icon-container\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\"><path d=\"M17.6585 16.025L14.2437 12.6198C15.1716 11.3338 15.6121 9.7613 15.4871 8.1819C15.362 6.60251 14.6795 5.11847 13.5607 3.99351C12.936 3.36206 12.1916 2.86066 11.3709 2.51845C10.5502 2.17623 9.66952 2 8.77995 2C7.89039 2 7.00969 2.17623 6.18899 2.51845C5.36829 2.86066 4.62395 3.36206 3.99919 3.99351C3.36594 4.61649 2.86312 5.35871 2.51992 6.17708C2.17673 6.99545 2 7.87365 2 8.76068C2 9.64772 2.17673 10.5259 2.51992 11.3443C2.86312 12.1627 3.36594 12.9049 3.99919 13.5279C5.11957 14.6901 6.62279 15.4103 8.23285 15.5562C9.84291 15.7022 11.4517 15.2641 12.7639 14.3224L16.1788 17.7275C16.3849 17.9034 16.6473 18 16.9186 18C17.1899 18 17.4523 17.9034 17.6585 17.7275C18.1138 17.16 18.1138 16.5925 17.6585 16.025ZM5.59278 12.0523C5.16258 11.6298 4.82094 11.1263 4.58774 10.5709C4.35455 10.0156 4.23446 9.41951 4.23446 8.81744C4.23446 8.21536 4.35455 7.6193 4.58774 7.06394C4.82094 6.50859 5.16258 6.00503 5.59278 5.58257C6.01644 5.15359 6.52144 4.81292 7.07838 4.58039C7.63532 4.34786 8.23308 4.22811 8.83687 4.22811C9.44066 4.22811 10.0384 4.34786 10.5954 4.58039C11.1523 4.81292 11.6573 5.15359 12.081 5.58257C12.5112 6.00503 12.8528 6.50859 13.086 7.06394C13.3192 7.6193 13.4393 8.21536 13.4393 8.81744C13.4393 9.41951 13.3192 10.0156 13.086 10.5709C12.8528 11.1263 12.5112 11.6298 12.081 12.0523C11.6573 12.4813 11.1523 12.822 10.5954 13.0545C10.0384 13.287 9.44066 13.4068 8.83687 13.4068C8.23308 13.4068 7.63532 13.287 7.07838 13.0545C6.52144 12.822 6.01644 12.4813 5.59278 12.0523Z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more information on your rights as a patient: <a href=\"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/informed-consent\/\">Informed Consent \u2013 Maternity Services (nhslothian.scot)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also get information from trusted sources that base their advice on research and evidence. You may find these websites helpful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/pregnancy\/labour-and-birth\/signs-of-labour\/inducing-labour\/\">Inducing labour &#8211; NHS (www.nhs.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng207\">Overview | Inducing labour | Guidance | NICE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tommys.org\/pregnancy-information\/giving-birth\/inducing-labour\">Inducing labour | Tommy&#8217;s (tommys.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aims.org.uk\/information\/item\/induction\">Induction of Labour | AIMS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your midwife or doctor will explain why induction of labour is being offered to you and will discuss what options you have. Always remember in most cases there is room for discussion about when the best time for induction would be, or whether it would be safe to just wait a bit longer to see<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":158,"featured_media":0,"parent":1863,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-1842","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"mathildepeace","author_link":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/author\/mathildepeace\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":false,"rttpg_excerpt":"Your midwife or doctor will explain why induction of labour is being offered to you and will discuss what options you have. Always remember in most cases there is room for discussion about when the best time for induction would be, or whether it would be safe to just wait a bit longer to see","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/158"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1842"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4879,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1842\/revisions\/4879"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/services.nhslothian.scot\/maternity\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}