From conception to birth, as an expectant mother, you always want to make the right decision for the well-being of your unborn baby. It is important to be well equipped with all the knowledge relating to labour and delivery as you near your due date. Sometimes due to various reasons, some women fail to experience labour when ought to. Hence there are different methods of inducing one. Here we shall be discussing foley bulb for induction of labour.
The foley bulb induction is a procedure for dilating a woman’s cervix during labour. The doctor inserts a catheter into the cervix, which has one deflated end. Once the catheter is placed into the cervix, the doctor fills the catheter with saline. This process is used to put pressure on the cervix or the uterine walls and cause dilation. As soon as the cervix dilates to 3 centimetres, the catheter falls on its own. This method is not a popular method of induction but women who wish to opt for the non-medicinal method of induction, this option may be considered.
In some cases, a pregnant woman may need a Foley balloon catheter induction and some of these reasons may be:
Though this is not a very popular method of induction, however, Foley catheter has its own sets of benefits. It may not only mechanically open up the cervix, but it may sometimes simultaneously start the labour procedure too. Also, it has been observed that women who used a Foley catheter or popularly known as Foley bulb effectively, gave birth within 24 hours after the insertion. The use of this induction method is also believed to lower the chances of a caesarean delivery, when it may be used with or without other induction methods. The use of this induction method puts less stress on your baby’s heart rate too, in comparison to other methods of induction.
Here are some potential risks of using a Foley catheter for labour induction:
Before the procedure of Foley balloon for cervical dilation begins, your midwife/doctor will take your blood pressure, temperature, check your pulse and view your pregnancy records. Your baby’s position will be established, and your baby’s heart rate will be monitored too. Here’s what may happen during the procedure:
The experience may vary from one woman to another, but the factors that may determine how you feel may depend on:
In most cases, it is established that insertion of the catheter balloon may cause varied levels of discomfort, but it may be within the tolerable limits.
The Foley catheter may make the cervix softer and stretchier, and this aids cervix to open up. However, some things need to be remembered after the insertion of the Foley catheter such as:
However, if you notice experience heavy bleeding, your water breaks or you think you are going into labour, call your midwife or doctor right away.
In case a woman has had a previous caesarean birth or has a scarred uterus, foley catheter induction may be suggested by her doctor. Though the intracervical Foley catheter for induction of labour for women who wish to opt for VBAC are very limited, however, the results may be positive. In a study conducted on approximately 150 women, who opted for foley catheter induction for vaginal birth after caesarean delivery, it was observed that the success rate was more than 50 per cent. However, there were complications reported too, but those were within the expected limits.
Foley catheter induction is a very safe and effective way of induction. It is necessary that you discuss the various pros and cons of this method of induction with your doctor before you decide in its favour.