A Foley catheter is a flexible tube used in pregnancy to help start labor. Doctors place the catheter through the cervix, which helps widen or dilate it. The goal is to make the cervix ready for delivery when natural dilation isn’t happening fast enough. This process, called mechanical cervical ripening, uses the pressure from a balloon on the catheter.
It has a small balloon on the tip. Once the catheter is in place, the doctor fills the balloon with sterile water. This creates pressure on the cervix, which helps it open. The pressure mimics what happens naturally during labor when the baby’s head pushes down on the cervix.
Foley catheters are often used when other methods, like medication, aren’t preferred or haven’t worked. The process can take several hours, and the catheter may stay in place until the cervix reaches 3 or 4 centimeters. Once the cervix has widened enough, the balloon slips out on its own, and labor can continue.
Why Use a Foley Catheter in Pregnancy?
Doctors may choose a Foley catheter if they need to start labor but want to avoid medication. Medications like Pitocin can help with induction, but a it is a more mechanical approach. It can sometimes be safer for mothers who can’t use certain drugs.
Using a Foley catheter for labor induction has fewer risks of causing overstimulation of the uterus compared to some medications. It also helps keep things moving at a steady pace. However, some women might feel discomfort or cramping when the catheter gets placed. These sensations happen because the balloon puts pressure on the cervix.
The process does not guarantee labor will begin immediately. If the Foley catheter does not fully ripen the cervix, doctors may use other methods to assist. However, many times the body begins labor on its own after the cervix opens.
In some cases, the Foley catheter may work alongside medication. If the cervix needs further softening or the labor process stalls, medication may be added. But for many women, the Foley catheter alone can be enough to start labor.
This method helps create a smoother and often safer labor process for both mother and baby.