Trial of Vaginal Delivery Beyond Expected Date of Delivery-A Study of 50 Cases

Abstract

Introduction: Spontaneous onsets of labour within expected date of delivery not always occur. Some pregnancies cross the expected date of delivery, and need induction of labour. Induction of Labor means initiation of uterine contraction that can be done by pharmacological or non-pharmacological method. Induction of labor is not risk- free. The present study aimed to investigate initiation of uterine contractions beyond the expected date of delivery. Methods: This Prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Hospital, from January 2008 to June 2008. A total of 50 patients were enrolled in this study following the inclusive criteria. Data were collected using the predesigned semi-structured questionnaire. Verbal consent was taken before recruiting the study population. Completed data forms were reviewed, edited, and processed for computer data entry. Result: Among the study population (N=50), one-fifth of the mothers’ (10,20.0%) age was under twenty. The majority of mothers were (34,68.0%) between 20-30 years old with a mean age of 25.4 ± 4.32 years. In seventeen patients (17,34.0%) labour induction was given by oxytocin drip followed by ARM, in ten patients labour induction was given by ARM followed by oxytocin drip & in twenty-three patients (23,46.0%) with unfavorable cervix prostaglandin was used and then followed by oxytocin drip and ARM. The total number of induction failures (who needed a caesarian section) was twenty (20,40.0%). Among the total number of caesarian sections, eleven (11,55.0%) were done due to fetal distress, nine (9,45.0%) were done due to abnormal uterine action, one (1,5.0%) was done due to cervical dystocia. Conclusion: Labor induction should be applied to improve birth consequences and when the potential aids outweigh the potential dangers. Researches point out that inducing labour lessens the risk of having a stillbirth, macrosomia and developing high blood pressure as the pregnancy advances.