A prospective randomized study of induction of labor.

In a prospective randomized study spontaneous and oxytocin induced labor have been compared with respect to duration of labor and the condition of the fetus and the newborn infant. The study consists of 166 normal patients at full term. No significant differences between the two groups were found, and the results of the study showed that induction of labor between the 40th and 41st week of pregnancy was safe for the fetus. It is concluded that there seems to be no increased risks to mother or fetus from induction of labor compared to normal labor provided that there is cephalic presentation and a normal pregnancy.