BACKGROUND The rates of induction of labor and elective induction of labor are increasing. Whether elective induction of labor improves outcomes or simply leads to greater complications and health care costs is commonly debated in the literature. PURPOSE To compare the benefits and harms of elective induction of labor and expectant management of pregnancy. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE (through Febr...

Background: Fetal male gender may affect the progression of labor and could be a risk factor for labor arrest. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of fetus gender on labor curve.    Methods: In this cohort study, 1550 singleton term pregnant women in labor phase (either spontaneous or by induction) were enrolled. Results of regular cervical examination, dilation, length o...

OBJECTIVES To perform a preliminary investigation into the use of elastography for cervical assessment, in order to determine the effectiveness of this method for the evaluation of cervical consistency. METHODS Elastography of the uterine cervix was performed in 29 patients before induction of labor, with tissue surrounding the internal os described using a numeric scale called the elastograp...

We evaluated the relationship between duration of labor induction and successful vaginal delivery (VD) in nulliparous women at term. Nulliparous women with singleton pregnancies > or = 37 weeks who underwent labor induction at a single institution were studied. Exclusion criteria were nonvertex presentation, stillbirth, fetal chromosomal/structural abnormalities, spontaneous labor, and spontane...

low-risk pregnancy include evaluation of decreased fetal movement, spontaneous variable decelerations during monitoring to evaluate for labor, or an ultrasound evaluation for fundal height measurements discordant with gestational age. How should “isolated” oligohydramnios—an AFI <5 cm—be interpreted, and should immediate induction be recommended for such patients? Oligohydramnios occurs in abou...

Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate the methods, indications, outcome of induced labor and its significance in obstetric practice in the study area. Methods. This was a retrospective study of cases of induced labor at the Catholic Maternity Hospital in Ogoja, Cross-River State, Nigeria, between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2011. Data on the sociodemographic characteristics of...

BACKGROUND Medico-technical intervention rates in labour, such as induction and augmentation of labour, are rising worldwide. Such interventions have adverse as well as beneficial consequences, so any intervention introduced must be based on evidence and result in more good than harm, otherwise it is just interference. AIM To describe three common medico-technical interventions in normal preg...

abstract background: prolonged labor can lead to maternal and neonatal complications. the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of oral propranolol plus oxytocin versus oxytocin only on the process and outcome of labor. materials and methods: in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial performed in ilam mustafa hospital, a total of 146 nulliparous pregnant women at gestational...