Induction of labor in the obese patient

Obese women are at an increased risk of antepartum pregnancy complications and are therefore more likely to require an induction of labor than normal weight women. They also have an increased rate of failing an induction of labor, a rate that rises significantly with increasing body mass index, and subsequent surgical and neonatal complications of an intrapartum cesarean delivery. This increase in induction failure may be due to differences in the myometrium of obese women resulting in decreased contraction strength. There have been only a few studies comparing the efficacy of the various cervical ripening agents in obese women and at this point no recommendation can be made as to what method may result in the greatest chance of a successful induction.