Evaluation of an Elective Induction Protocol at a Regional Tertiary Obstetric Care Centre

To evaluate the safety of elective induction (EI) at or beyond 39 weeks gestation in the setting of a regional tertiary obstetric care centre.

We conducted a prospective cohort feasibility study of low-risk pregnant women who delivered at a regional tertiary obstetric care centre. We compared maternal and neonatal outcomes of low-risk pregnant women who opted for EI at or beyond 39 weeks gestation (n = 112) to a comparison group who opted for expectant management (n = 116). All deliveries occurred between May 1, 2019, and November 30, 2019, and February 15, 2020, and August 15, 2020.

There were no significant differences in the rates of cesarean deliveries or hypertensive disorders between women who underwent EI and those who chose expectant management. There were also no differences in neonatal outcomes. Women in the EI group received significantly more cervical ripening agents (P < 0.0001) and had significantly longer stays on the antepartum (P < 0.0001) and labour and delivery units (P = 0.0015) but experienced significantly shorter stays on the postpartum unit (P = 0.0368). There was no difference in the total length of hospital stay between groups.

EI protocols can be safely implemented in our regional tertiary obstetric care centre without increased risk of maternal complications or neonatal morbidity. Women considering EI should be adequately counselled on the use of cervical ripening agents and length of stay on antepartum and labour and delivery units.