Is it possible to have a painless induction at 37 weeks?

Pain-free induction is a method of terminating pregnancy, which refers to the state of gestation. In principle, pain-free induction is not recommended at 37 weeks of gestation; however, if there are abnormalities in the fetus or mother that make continuing the pregnancy unsafe, pain-free induction may be considered. The details are as follows:

If both the pregnant woman and the fetus are healthy and without complications at 37 weeks of gestation, pain-free induction is generally not advised. This is because the upper limit for elective termination via pain-free induction is 28 weeks of gestation. Beyond 28 weeks, pregnancy termination is not permitted casually, as the fetus is considered viable with fully developed organs. Artificially inducing labor at this stage may pose unnecessary risks to both the mother and the fetus, and therefore is not allowed.

However, if the mother has serious health conditions, such as congenital heart disease, or if the fetus has developmental abnormalities—such as malformations or congenital defects—that significantly threaten fetal well-being and could result in severe physical impairments after birth, pain-free induction may be considered when medically appropriate.

Pain-free induction carries certain risks. A thorough medical evaluation at a hospital should be performed before the procedure, and a physician should conduct a comprehensive assessment, weighing the risks and benefits before deciding whether induction is necessary. After the procedure, adequate rest is essential, and strenuous activities or intense physical exercise should be avoided in the short term.