Vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening at term: comparison of outpatient vs. inpatient administration.

Objective: To compare outpatient with inpatient misoprostol for preinduction cervical ripening at term.

Study Design: This concurrent cohort study was conducted between August 1999 and July 2002 at a rural community hospital. Pregnancies > or =38 weeks with an unfavorable cervix were eligible if there was a reactive nonstress test with no regular contractions or active medical/obstetric complications.