If your baby is overdue you can probably expect to feel tired and frustrated. You will also probably feel like the big day will never happen and begin to get annoyed with well meaning friends and relatives calling five times a day to check if labour has started.

You will probably have midwife or doctor appointments every few days to check that baby is still doing well and will begin to make plans for an induction if baby hasn’t come by 42 weeks.

• To induce a pregnancy medically you will usually first have a membrane sweep. This means that your midwife or doctor will perform a quick and usually painless procedure (though it can be quite uncomfortable) during an internal examination where they will sweep a finger around the cervix to separate it from the membranes around your baby. This releases prostaglandin hormones which can bring on labour within 48 hours. If this proves unsuccessful you may then be offered or ask for an induction. Although induction generally means to artificially bring on labour it usually more specifically refers to bringing on labour with the use of ARM or medication.
• ARM stands for Artificially Rupturing Membranes. To do this your doctor will use a long, fine crochet hook style instrument to break the membranes surrounding baby i.e. to break your waters.
• Prostaglandin is a hormone which can induce labour. This can be administered in gel or pessary form and often starts or stimulates contractions.
• The final step, if all other steps have been unsuccessful, is to have a synthetic form of oxytocin called Syntocinon. This is administered via a drip.