Early induction used to reduce risk of shoulder dystocia

Recent research published in the Lancet compared the outcomes of women with larger babies when they were induced early compared to standard management with regards to cases of shoulder dystocia and other neonatal and maternal morbidity.  The women from France, Belgium and Switzerland had all been identified as having babies over the 95 percentile for weight for their gestational age (from sonograms).  They were then randomly assigned to one of two groups: either “expectant management” (i.e. left to go into labour naturally or induced for other reasons) or “induction of labour” (within 3 days between 37+0 weeks and 38+6 weeks of gestation).

Results indicated that those who had been induced had a reduced risk of shoulder dystocia.  It was also noted that induction of labour did not increase the risk of caesarean delivery and improved the likelihood of spontaneous vaginal delivery in this study.

Researchers commented that of course these findings needed to be balanced with the effects of early-term induction of labour.  They also acknowledged various limitations in the study, such as the study group being smaller than expected, due to difficulty in getting women to volunteer.  More research into this area is needed, but these initial findings are interesting.

Read the research abstract here.

Read the RCM article here.