OBJECTIVES To assess the differences in the maternal and fetal outcomes between pharmacological induced and sponta-neous labour in nulliparous women. MATERIAL AND METHODS Observational cohort study carried out over a period of 2 years. INCLUSION CRITERIA nulliparous sin-gleton pregnancies, with cephalic fetal presentation, elective labour induction with intra-vaginal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)...

The cervix is a cylindrical structure that is proximally connected to the uterus and distally to the vaginal cavity. The Bishop score has been used to evaluate the cervix during pregnancy. However, alternatives have been evaluated because the Bishop score is uncomfortable for patients, relies on a subjective examination, and lacks internal os data. Elastography has been used to assess the cervi...

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to assess economic and health consequences of elective induction at term. STUDY DESIGN A decision-tree model incorporating a Markov analysis was used to compare the decision either to electively induce labor at term or expectantly manage the pregnancy until 42 weeks' gestation. Main outcome measures, stratified by parity, cervical ripeness, and gestational age at ind...

Conventional economic theory, coupled with standard preference parameters predict that labor supply should fall markedly over time. However, this contradicts the empirical reality that labor supply rises at the very onset of economic development, subsequently tends to fall, and then stabilizes. This paper addresses this pattern of labor supply over time, and explains it via the proliferation of...

OBJECTIVE The objectives of this review were to identify the predictive factors of induction of labor (IOL) failure or success as well as to highlight the current heterogeneity regarding the definition and diagnosis of failed IOL. MATERIALS AND METHODS Only studies in which the main or secondary outcome was failed IOL, defined as not entering the active phase of labor after 24 h of prostaglan...

OBJECTIVE To quantify the risk and risk factors for cesarean delivery associated with medical and elective induction of labor in nulliparous women. METHODS A prospective cohort study was performed in nulliparous women at term with vertex singleton gestations who had labor induced at 2 obstetrical centers. Medical and elective indications and Bishop scores were recorded before labor induction....

The recent trends of declining birth weight in the United States are alarming policy makers as well as medical professionals. The trends are puzzling since most factors affecting birth weight have changed in favor of increasing it. We find that the changes in the use of labor induction and Cesarean section explain not only the trends of declining birth weight from 1989 to the mid-2000s, but als...

background : oxytocin is the most consumed medication in modern midwifery. the consumption of oxytocin in inducing and strengthening delivery in delivery wards requires an efficient method for making use of this medication with maximum effect and minimum side effects. in this regard, this study has been conducted aiming at comparing the effect of two methods of prescribing oxytocin in inducing ...

The number eight is considered lucky in Chinese culture, e.g. the Beijing Olympics began at 8:08 pm on 8/8/2008. Given the potential for discretion in selecting particular dates of labor induction or scheduled Cesarean section (C-section), we consider whether Chinese-American births in California occur disproportionately on the 8th, 18th, or 28th day of the month. We find 2.3% "too many" Chines...

INTRODUCTION We undertook a prospective cohort study to compare the effectiveness and safety of 50 µg misoprostol versus 3 mg dinoprostone in two vaginal doses 6 hours apart, followed if necessary by oxytocin for labor induction in low-risk post-term (> 40 weeks) pregnancies with unfavorable cervix (Bishop score ≤ 6). METHODS Labor induction and subsequent management were conducted using a st...