Women should be offered induced labour earlier than previously advised
Induced labour should be offered earlier than previously advised to make birth safer for women and their babies, according to draft guidelines published by NICE today (25 May 2021). The updated recommendations strengthen previous advice in the light of new evidence on induction timings.
The draft guideline, an update of the 2008 version, recommends that women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies should be offered induction at 41 weeks and the induction should take place as soon as possible. Previous guidelines advised induction between 41 and 42 weeks, and that women who had chosen not to be induced should be monitored after 42 weeks. If women choose not to have induced labour their decision should be supported and their care options discussed with them.
Recent research which compared induction times and outcomes showed higher infant mortality after 42 weeks if the woman had not been induced.
The NICE independent advisory guideline committee also recommended that more research should be done to establish at what gestational age induction of labour should be offered in the groups of women who may be more likely to experience adverse outcomes if their pregnancy continues. These groups include women of black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds, women with a BMI over 30, and women aged over 35 years.
It’s vitally important that pregnant women faced with the possibility of induced labour are offered advice based on the latest evidence. By offering induced labour one week earlier, we can help ensure that women and babies are safer from harm and have the best possible outcomes during birth.
We welcome an update to the NICE guidelines around inducing women’s labour. It’s been more than 10 years since the previous guidelines were introduced and it’s vitally important the new research published since then is acknowledged and the advice for women updated accordingly.
This proposed update takes into account the increasing body of evidence that pregnancies that reach, or pass, 41 weeks are associated with a small increase in the risk of stillbirth and perinatal death and that induction of labour reduces this risk.
Induction of labour is a common and safe procedure with around 1 in 5 labours induced in the UK. A woman's individual needs and preferences should always be taken into account and she must have the opportunity to discuss the options with a healthcare professional so that she can make an informed decision.
We would also second calls for more research in understanding induction of labour for women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality in pregnancy outcomes. This is so we can work to reduce health inequalities in maternity outcomes.
The second major update to the draft guideline involves recommendations around women who have experienced intrauterine fetal death. The committee identified an increased risk to women who experience this and who have previously had a caesarean birth, as they were more likely to suffer a uterine rupture. The draft guideline recommends that they should be advised of this risk when discussing birth options.
Previous advice recommended that in these circumstances women should be offered pharmacological interventions to induce labour, namely mifepristone followed by a prostaglandin (dinoprostone or misoprostol) and careful monitoring. However, the committee found no evidence about any pharmacological interventions in this group and noted that dinoprostone and misoprostol are now contraindicated for women who have a uterine scar.
The committee recommended research into the best methods for inducing labour in women who experience intrauterine fetal death having had a previous caesarean birth.
It’s tragic when a woman suffers intrauterine fetal death and we need to make sure they are fully supported. We also need to make sure they – and healthcare staff – are fully aware of the risks of different interventions and can make informed decisions accordingly. However, it’s clear that more research should be done to establish the safest and most effective way to induce labour in higher risk women who have experienced intrauterine fetal death, which is why we’ve made the recommendation to this effect.
The draft guideline is now open for consultation and can be commented upon here.