Sweeping of the membranes is an effective method of induction of labour in prolonged pregnancy: a report of a randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether sweeping of the membranes is an effective method of induction of labour in women with prolonged pregnancy.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
A district maternity hospital.


METHODS
65 women attending an antenatal clinic; 33 randomized to sweeping of the membranes and 32 to a control group.


METHODS
Proportion of women achieving spontaneous labour.


RESULTS
Spontaneous labour occurred more often in the sweeping of the membranes group than in the control group (25/33 (76%) vs 12/32 (38%); odds ratio (OR) 4.65; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.75 to 12.31; P = 0.002). In addition a greater proportion of women in the sweeping group had a cervical dilatation of 4 cm or more at the first vaginal examination in the labour ward (16/33 (49%) vs 5/32 (16%); OR 4.39; 95% CI 1.56 to 12.32; P = 0.005). There were fewer maternal infections in the sweeping group (0/33 vs 4/32 (12%); OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.88; P = 0.04). There were no differences in the type of analgesia used in labour, the mode of delivery or neonatal outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Sweeping of the membranes is an effective method of induction of labour in women with prolonged pregnancy.
el-Torkey
M
M
Bellshill Maternity Hospital, Lanarkshire.
Grant
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000502:physiology*; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged