TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Induction and Augmentation of Labor A1 - Cunningham, F. Gary A1 - Leveno, Kenneth J. A1 - Dashe, Jodi S. A1 - Hoffman, Barbara L. A1 - Spong, Catherine Y. A1 - Casey, Brian M. Y1 - 2022 N1 - T2 - Williams Obstetrics, 26e AB - Today, several pharmacological agents permit labor to be induced or augmented. Induction implies stimulation of contractions before the spontaneous onset of labor, with or without ruptured membranes. When the cervix is closed and uneffaced, labor induction is often preceded by cervical ripening, a process to soften and open the cervix. This is somewhat of a misnomer in that cervical ripening, per se, may also be a means of labor induction. Augmentation refers to enhancement of spontaneous contractions that are considered inadequate because of failed cervical dilation and poor fetal descent. This chapter presents indications and methods for labor induction or augmentation and for cervical ripening. SN - PB - McGraw Hill CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/29 UR - accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1190760915 ER -