Measures of success: Prediction of successful labor induction

Ideally, all pregnant women would enter labor spontaneously at the safest time to yield the best health outcomes for both themselves and their newborns. Unfortunately, this does not always happen and leaves obstetric providers weighing the maternal and fetal risks of continued expectant management versus labor induction. Several elements have been reported to affect the success rate of an induction, including the Bishop score, maternal parity, body mass index (BMI), age, medical comorbidities, fetal gestational age, and estimated weight, as well as the hospital site and provider practice. Recent data suggest that the decision to induce or continue expectant management in anticipation of labor is an important variable in determining whether a woman has a safe and successful delivery.