Methods for assessing pre-induction cervical ripening
This paper examines methods for assessing pre-induction cervical ripening in women admitted for induction of labour
Abstract
Induction of labour is the artificial initiation of labour in a pregnant woman after the age of fetal viability but without any objective evidence of active phase labour and with intact fetal membranes. The need for induction of labour may arise due to a problem in the mother, her fetus or both, and the procedure may be carried out at or before term. Obstetricians have long known that for this to be successful, it is important that the uterine cervix (the neck of the womb) has favourable characteristics in terms of readiness to go into the labour state.
The objectives of this paper:
- to compare Bishop score with any other method for assessing pre-induction cervical ripening in women admitted for induction of labour. (Bishop score is a pre-labor scoring system to assist in predicting whether induction of labor will be required)
This research is supported by the Department for International Development’s Evidence Building and Synthesis Research Programme which is led by Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Citation
Ifeanyichukwu U Ezebialu, Ahizechukwu C Eke, George U Eleje, and Chukwuemeka E Nwachukwu. Methods for assessing pre-induction cervical ripening. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015 June 12; (6): 1–31. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010762.pub2