Appendix B: Risks and benefits of induction of labour compared to expectant management for suspected fetal macrosomia (in women without diabetes)

Tools and resources

**Table 7: Outcomes for babies and women**
Outcome	Induction of labour	Expectant management	Risk difference
Shoulder dystocia	About 410 babies would per 10,000 would be expected to have a shoulder dystocia (so 9,590 would not)	About 680 babies per 10,000 would be expected to have a shoulder dystocia (so 9,320 would not)	About 270 more babies per 10,000 whose mother's birth was managed expectantly would be expected to have a shoulder dystocia; so for 9,730 the outcome would be the same irrespective of the management strategy
Third or fourth degree perineal tears	About 260 per 10,000 women would be expected to have third or fourth degree tears (so 9,740 would not)	About 69 per 10,000 women would be expected to have third or fourth degree tears (so 9,931 would not)	About 191 women whose labour was induced would be expected to have third or fourth degree tears; so for 9,809 the outcome would be the same irrespective of the management strategy

For sources of risk data, see evidence review A.

Table 8: Outcomes for babies and women that are likely to be the same with induction of labour and expectant management

Outcomes

For sources of risk data, see evidence review A.

This page was last updated: 04 November 2021