A more liberal approach towards induction of labour in prolonged pregnancy does not result in an adverse labour outcome

摘要

Discussions among Norwegian obstetricians on how to handle prolonged pregnancies have been ongoing throughout the past decade. In 2011, the Norwegian Directorate of Health recommended a specialist care consultation one week after the estimated date of delivery, implying prompt induction of labour in women at risk. The aim of this study was to compare an expectant management with a more liberal approach towards induction of labour, and to assess how the women responded to these recommendations. A quality assurance study was performed at Stavanger University Hospital in women with a pregnancy length > 290 days. A total of 480 women who delivered prior to the introduction of the new guidelines (control period) were compared with 493 women treated according to the new recommendations (study period).