Induction of labour is a relatively common procedure.

Induction of labour is the initiation of contractions in a pregnant woman who is not in labour to help her achieve a vaginal birth within 24 to 48 hours.

It should be performed only when there is a clear medical indication for it and the expected benefits outweigh its potential harms.

Wherever induction of labour is carried out, facilities should be available for assessing maternal and fetal well-being.

Prevalence - Between 1990 and 2018, the overall frequency of labour induction almost tripled in the United States, rising from 9.5 percent in 1990 to 27.1 percent in 2018.