Sometimes it is necessary to give your unborn baby a little
nudge and kick-start the labor. Typical reasons include complications (such as
diabetes or decreased levels of amniotic fluid), medical emergencies (such as
water breaking before the onset of contractions), or pregnancy duration in
excess of 40 weeks. Rarely, it is also a matter of scheduling convenience,
especially around major holidays or in cases when getting to the hospital in a
timely manner might be a problem.