Inducing labour

Research recommendations coming out of this guidance

• Prevention of prolonged pregnancy: At what gestational age should induction of labour be offered in the subgroups of women who may be more likely to experience adverse outcomes if pregnancy continues?

• Prevention of prolonged pregnancy: Based on individual patient data meta-analysis, what is the optimal timing of induction of labour?

• Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes: What are the relative risks and benefits of induced labour versus expectant management in women whose membranes have ruptured spontaneously between 34 and 37 weeks?

• Intrauterine fetal death after previous caesarean birth: How should labour be induced in women with intrauterine fetal death who have had a previous caesarean birth, and who choose to be induced?

• Membrane sweeping: What are the effectiveness and acceptability of, and maternal satisfaction with, the following:

  - multiple versus once-only membrane sweeping, at varying gestational ages, depending on parity

  - membrane sweeping versus cervical massage?

• Vaginal dinoprostone: What are the effectiveness, safety and maternal acceptability of:

  - different regimens of vaginal dinoprostone, stratified by: clinical indications; cervical and membrane status; parity; and previous caesarean birth

  - different management policies for unsuccessful induction of labour with vaginal dinoprostone (additional dinoprostone, oxytocin, elective caesarean birth or delay of induction, if appropriate). 

• Setting for induction of labour: Is it safe, effective and cost effective to carry out induction of labour in an outpatient setting? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such an approach, taking into account women's views?