Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks (that's 280 days from the first day of your last period). Most women go into labour within a week either side of this date. If your labour doesn't start, your midwife will want to keep a careful check on your baby’s health. This will include regularly checking your blood pressure and urine and listening to the baby’s heartbeat. If there is any evidence that you or your baby are not doing well, or if you're very overdue your midwife will suggest that labour is induced.

Labour may be induced if there is any sort of risk to the mother’s or baby’s health, for example, if the mother has high blood pressure or if the baby is failing to grow and develop.

Induction is always planned in advance, so you'll be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your doctor and midwife and find out why it is considered suitable in your case.

Contractions can be started by inserting a pessary or gel into the vagina, or by a hormone drip in the arm. Sometimes both are used. Induction of labour may take a while, particularly if the neck of the womb (cervix) needs to be softened with pessaries or gels.