Induction of labor and postpartum blood loss.

Background: To analyze blood loss after delivery in women with induction of labor compared to women with spontaneous onset of labor.

Methods: In this secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study investigating postpartum hemorrhage, 965 deliveries were analyzed including 380 women with induction of labor (39%) between 2015 and 2016. Primary outcome parameters were rate of postpartum hemorrhage, estimated blood loss and post-partum decrease in hemoglobin.

Results: Rates of postpartum hemorrhage and estimated blood loss were not significantly different in women with induction of labor. Women with induction of labor had a significantly reduced decrease in hemoglobin after delivery. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, induction of labor remained associated with reduced decrease in hemoglobin. Secondary maternal and neonatal outcomes were unaffected.

Conclusions: Induction of labor is not associated with increased blood loss after delivery and should not be regarded as a risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage.