Why Induction Matters- my review

Why Induction Matters: A Reflection for Birth Workers, Mothers & Anyone Navigating Birth DecisionsWritten by Abbi Davenport – Birth Worker, Mother, and Founder of 3 Echoes Doula

Have you ever sat across from a woman who told you she was induced without really knowing what that meant?

Maybe she said yes because the hospital told her she was overdue. Or perhaps she heard that her baby was “too big,” or that being over 35 meant she’d better not wait too long. And maybe, weeks or months later, she began wondering… Was that the right choice for me?

I’ve had the privilege of sitting with women who’ve shared these stories. Through photography, quiet conversations after birth, and more recently through a series of interviews I did with mothers about their caesarean experiences. One thread kept showing up: the feeling that they were guided into decisions without enough information, time, or support to feel confident in their choices.

So when I read Why Induction Matters by Dr. Rachel Reed, it felt like something clicked. This little book put words and evidence to what I’d been hearing over and over again in the birth space. And I want to share what I learned with you.

🌀 Let’s Talk About How Normal Induction Has Become

Did you know that in some parts of Australia, over 40% of births are induced?

That’s a huge number. And often, it’s not because of urgent medical reasons. Dr. Reed opens the book by gently exploring how induction has become routine. It’s often presented not as an option, but as the “next step.” When something becomes that normalised, we stop asking questions.

Have you ever felt that pressure in a care setting? That unspoken sense that your body can’t be trusted past a certain point? That’s what Reed unpacks so clearly: how our maternity system often views birth as something to control rather than support.

It’s a powerful reminder to pause and ask, Is this truly necessary? Or are we afraid of waiting?

🕰️ Due Dates Aren’t Expiry Dates

Let’s get honest about due dates for a moment. How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m 41 weeks, they won’t let me go much longer”?

This chapter in the book is such a sigh of relief. Reed explains how due dates are calculated (spoiler: they’re not very precise!) and why reaching or passing 40 weeks doesn’t mean something is wrong.

Babies aren’t late. They’re just… on their own timeline. And we need to stop making women feel like their bodies are failing if labour hasn’t started by a particular day on the calendar.

If you’re currently pregnant and feeling that creeping pressure, I encourage you to ask, What if I’m not “overdue”… what if I’m right on time for me and my baby?

🤰 What Are the Common Reasons for Induction?

Dr. Reed walks through all the usual reasons:

• Post-dates

• Big baby

• Maternal age

• Reduced movements

• High blood pressure or gestational diabetes

• PROM (when your waters break before labour starts)

• Previous stillbirth

What I love is that she doesn’t dismiss any of these. She just offers the full picture: the actual statistics, the context, and the reminder that risks are different for everyone. Not every “big baby” leads to complications. Not every woman over 40 needs to be induced. And sometimes, waiting is not only safe, it’s actually the better option.

So if you've been told you're a candidate for induction, here's your gentle prompt: Ask for the evidence. Ask for time. Ask what happens if you wait. These are powerful questions that you absolutely have the right to ask.

🏥 What Induction Actually Looks Like

Have you ever heard someone say “they’ll just give me a little something to get things going”?

It sounds so simple. But Reed breaks it down — cervical ripening, artificial rupture of membranes, synthetic oxytocin, and the monitoring and management that often follow.

What she highlights is that induction is not a single event. It’s often a cascade. And if the body isn’t ready, these steps can take time, feel more intense, and increase the likelihood of further intervention.

If you’re facing induction or supporting someone who is, this chapter is a must-read. It’s not shared to scare, but to prepare. Because real consent can only happen when you know exactly what you’re saying yes to.

🧠 You Always Have a Choice

This might be one of the most empowering parts of the book. The reminder that you can say no. Or not yet. Or can we talk about other options?

Dr. Reed explores how information is often delivered in ways that scare women into compliance “Your baby could die if we don’t induce” rather than helping them make a calm, informed choice.

Let’s flip that narrative. Let’s start asking, What’s the absolute risk? What are my other options? Can I take some time to think?

Because your body, your baby, your birth — it’s yours.

🌿 Trusting the Body: The Hormonal Blueprint

Reed also gives a beautiful overview of how labour actually works hormonally, emotionally and physically. She explains how oxytocin, endorphins, and other hormones flow together to support the natural progression of labour and how induction can interrupt that rhythm.

But it’s not about making you feel bad if you choose or need an induction. It’s about helping you understand your body so you can trust it more. And that trust? It changes everything.

🌈 The Emotional Side of Induction

If you’ve ever felt sadness, confusion, or even grief after an induction even if everything went “well”, you are not alone. Reed acknowledges this emotional layer with such compassion. She invites us (birth workers, care providers, friends, family) to hold space for these feelings, to validate them, and to see that emotional safety is just as important as physical safety.

A Gentle Invitation

This book doesn’t have an agenda. It doesn’t tell you what to do. It simply invites you to understand more, ask more, and decide for yourself.

If you’re pregnant right now, or supporting someone who is, I really encourage you to read it. Keep it next to your birth plan. Take it to your appointments. Use it to start conversations that matter.

If you’ve already had an induction and are processing your experience, know this:

your feelings are valid. You deserved better information. And it’s never too late to understand your story more deeply.

I’d love to hear from you. Have you experienced induction? Were you given the information you needed to make an informed decision? What questions are sitting on your heart right now?

Let’s keep having these conversations, gently and bravely.

With love,Abbi

Birth worker, doula-in-training, and witness to many powerful births