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.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

A district maternity hospital.

SUBJECTS

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

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

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.