Elective labor induction at 39 weeks’ gestation might not lower the risk for perinatal death or neonatal complications, but it does cut down on cesarean deliveries, according to a New England Journal of Medicinestudy.
Over 6000 low-risk, nulliparous women were randomized to labor induction at 39 weeks or to expectant management. The primary composite outcome — perinatal death or severe neonatal outcomes — was lower with labor induction than expectant management (4.3% vs. 5.4%), but the difference did not achieve statistical significance. Cesarean delivery, however, occurred significantly less often in the induction group (18.6% vs. 22.2%).