SWEEPING OF THE MEMBRANES IS AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF INDUCTION OF LABOR 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 membrances is an effective method of induction of labour in women with prolonged pregnancy.