Comparison of Maternal and Foetal Outcome Between Induced Labour and Spontaneous Labour in Low Risk Pregnancy in Primigravida

Abstract

BACKGROUND Induction of labour helps to reduce the number foetal deaths due to placental insufficiency caused by continuation of pregnancy beyond 40 weeks. Induction in unselected population has been associated with pronged labour, hyperstimulation, unsuccessful labour and iatrogenic prematurity. We wanted to compare maternal and foetal outcome between induced labour and spontaneous labour in primigravida low risk pregnancy. METHODS In this study, we included 146 women with term singleton pregnancy with vertex presentation in each group. Outcome measures were the mean duration of labour, mode of delivery and the foetomaternal outcomes. RESULTS There was no difference in the mean age, height and weight in the two groups. The average GA was 38.81 weeks in spontaneous group and 40.03 weeks in induced labour. More women had spontaneous vaginal delivery among those with spontaneous labour (84.24% versus 67.12%). Among those who were delivered vaginally, only 8% needed instrumental delivery in both groups; rest delivered normally. The mean duration of active stage of labour was significantly more in induced labour (5.32 hours) than in spontaneous labour (4.93 hours) (p=0.05). Average duration of induction to delivery in induced group was 13.29 hours. In the present study, among both groups, it was seen that foetal distress was the common reason for LSCS, followed by failure of induction among induced labour group, followed by maternal request, followed by non-decent of foetal head and non-progress of labour and one more reason that was noticed among spontaneous labour patient was persistent occipitoposterior position. CONCLUSIONS No statistically significant difference was seen with regard to mean APGAR scores and maternal complications in the two groups, but rate of caesarean section increased in induced labour.