Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and gastrointestinal tolerance of misoprostol taken orally for induction of labor, against our established protocol, with the interval from induction to vaginal birth as the primary outcome measure.
Methods: Two hundred seventy-five women who presented with indication for induction of labor were assigned randomly to receive either 50 micrograms of misoprostol orally every 4 hours as needed or treatment according to our established protocol (physician-chosen combinations of intracervical or vaginal prostaglandins every 4-6 hours, artificial rupture of membranes, and oxytocin infusion). Sample size was calculated with a two-tailed alpha = .05 and power of 95%.
Results: The mean time (+/-standard deviation) to vaginal birth with oral misoprostol was 926 +/- 521 minutes versus 909 +/- 585 minutes with the established protocol, a nonsignificant difference. There were no clinically or statistically significant differences in maternal secondary outcome measures (cesarean rate, frequency of epidural use, perineal trauma, or manual removal of the placenta). There was no difference in frequency of maternal gastrointestinal side effects. Neonatal outcomes, including cord blood acid-base analysis, were not different.
Conclusions: Oral misoprostol may be a new option for labor induction. It appears to be no less effective or safe than our usual regimen for induction of labor at term and is well tolerated. Further studies are warranted to confirm the safety of this approach and to determine optimal dose and frequency of administration.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(96)00523-6 | DOI Listing |
Arch Gynecol Obstet
January 2025
Post-Graduate Program in Health Sciences (PPGCS) Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Av. Pedra Branca, 25, Palhoça, SC, Brazil.
Purpose: This updated systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of a birthing ball (BB) exercises on low-risk parturients during labor, offering a more comprehensive understanding through a larger sample size, robust analysis, and focus on relevant endpoints that were underexplored in previous studies due to limited data.
Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Central for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing BB (also named Swiss ball) exercises with no intervention or standard care in parturients undergoing low-risk labor. Risk ratios (RR) and mean differences (MD) were calculated using a random-effects model.
PLoS Med
January 2025
Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Background: The risk of perinatal death and severe neonatal morbidity increases gradually after 41 weeks of pregnancy. We evaluated maternal and perinatal outcomes after a national shift from expectancy and induction at 42+0 weeks to a more active management of late-term pregnancies in Sweden offering induction from 41+0 weeks or an individual plan aiming at birth or active labour no later than 42+0 weeks.
Methods And Findings: Women with a singleton pregnancy lasting 41+0 weeks or more with a fetus in cephalic presentation (N = 150,370) were included in a nationwide, register-based cohort study.
PLoS One
January 2025
Department of Women and Children's Health, Harris Preterm Birth Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Background: Induction of labour (IOL) is a common obstetric intervention in the UK, affecting up to 33% of deliveries. IOL aims to achieve a vaginal delivery prior to spontaneous onset of labour to prevent harm from ongoing pregnancy complications and is known to prevent stillbirths and reduce neonatal intensive care unit admissions. However, IOL doesn't come without risk and overall, 20% of mothers having an induction will still require a caesarean section birth and in primiparous mothers this rate is even higher.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama, Yufu, Oita, 879-5593, Japan.
In the management of pregnancy, ritodrine has been used to prevent preterm birth, and magnesium sulfate (MgSO) has been used to prevent preterm labor and preeclampsia. Neonates born to mothers receiving these medications occasionally show an increase in serum potassium concentration. Recently, an elevated risk of neonatal hyperkalemia has been reported, particularly when ritodrine and MgSO are co-administered; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Obstet Gynecol MFM
January 2025
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Background: As induction of labor increases in the United States, safe, effective outpatient cervical ripening has been explored as a method to decrease the inpatient time burden. The most effective method of outpatient mechanical cervical ripening remains unclear.
Objective: To evaluate if Dilapan-S is non-inferior to cervical balloon for outpatient cervical ripening (CR) based on change in Bishop score.
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