Efficacy of membrane sweeping at term pregnancy to promote spontaneous labor: A comparative study

Membrane sweeping is done to promote spontaneous initiation of labor at term to avoid post-date pregnancy which is associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality. Post-date pregnancy occurs in 4-18% cases. This study will help in reducing rates of cesarean sections and post-term pregnancies and its associated complications. Our objective was to determine frequency of initiation of labor by membrane sweeping in low-risk pregnant women at term as compared to initiation of labor in pregnant women having expectant management till 40 weeks.

A comparative study was done in outpatients visiting Obstetrics and Gynecology department in Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Muzaffargarh between June 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024. One hundred and eighteen uncomplicated pregnant patients, randomly allocated at 37 weeks into study and control groups, Group-A membrane sweeping (n=59), Group-B without membrane sweeping (n-59). In Group-A, membrane sweeping done on weekly antenatal visit starting at 37 week and control group received standard care with no membrane sweeping. Primary outcome measures are frequency of patients going into spontaneous labor and gestational age at labor onset.

Frequency of women going into spontaneous labor was significantly higher in membrane sweeping group compared to no membrane sweeping (91.5% vs. 71.2%, p-value=0.005). The mean gestational age at delivery was significantly lower in membrane sweeping group compared to no sweeping group (38.2±0.5 vs. 39.8±1.2 weeks, p<0.001).

Sweeping of the membranes at term increases the chance of women for going into spontaneous labor before 41 weeks and reduces the incidence of post-date gestation.