Induction of labour is the process of a pregnant woman being given medication or undergoing a procedure to bring on labour, instead of waiting for spontaneous labour to begin on its own. One of the reasons I wanted to write a blog post on induction is not only because its use is increasingly common in maternity care, it is also often recommended with very little, if any, explanation of the risks, alternatives and how the experience can be different to spontaneous labour. The decision to have an induction, or not, is up to you, the birthing woman. Regardless of the circumstances, for you to have the best chance of an empowering and positive birth, it’s important that you are in charge of making the decisions about your body and baby.

You may have heard that choosing your care provider can be the most important decision you make in your birth journey, but how do you make that choice? I have made a list of 12 questions that you can take into an appointment with your care provider to see whether they are the right fit for you and your journey.

Choosing a care provider and place of birth is arguably one of the most important things you will do in preparing for your pregnancy, birth and postpartum. If your care provider and place of birth are aligned with your birth philosophies and vision for what you want your birth to look like, it is much more likely that you will have a positive birth experience.