Inducing labour

Prevention of prolonged pregnancy: At what gestational age should induction of labour be offered in the subgroups of women who may be more likely to experience adverse outcomes if pregnancy continues?

Prevention of prolonged pregnancy: Based on individual patient data meta-analysis, what is the optimal timing of induction of labour?

Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes: What are the relative risks and benefits of induced labour versus expectant management in women whose membranes have ruptured spontaneously between 34 and 37 weeks?

Intrauterine fetal death after previous caesarean birth: How should labour be induced in women with intrauterine fetal death who have had a previous caesarean birth, and who choose to be induced?

Membrane sweeping: What are the effectiveness and acceptability of, and maternal satisfaction with, the following:

- multiple versus once-only membrane sweeping, at varying gestational ages, depending on parity

- membrane sweeping versus cervical massage?

Vaginal dinoprostone: What are the effectiveness, safety and maternal acceptability of:

- different regimens of vaginal dinoprostone, stratified by: clinical indications; cervical and membrane status; parity; and previous caesarean birth

- different management policies for unsuccessful induction of labour with vaginal dinoprostone (additional dinoprostone, oxytocin, elective caesarean birth or delay of induction, if appropriate). 

Setting for induction of labour: Is it safe, effective and cost effective to carry out induction of labour in an outpatient setting? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such an approach, taking into account women's views?