Induction of Labour At Or Beyond Term

Publication Date: October 5, 2022
Last Updated: October 25, 2022

Recommendations

Induction of labour is recommended for women who are known with certainty to have reached 41 weeks (greater than or equal to 41 weeks +0/7 days) of gestation (moderate-certainty evidence).
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Routine induction of labour, for women with uncomplicated pregnancies, at less than 41 weeks is not recommended (low-certainty evidence).
Remarks:
  • Accurate gestational dating of the pregnancy is critical. WHO recommends one ultrasound scan before 24 weeks of gestation (early ultrasound) for pregnant women to estimate gestational age, improve detection of fetal anomalies and multiple pregnancies, reduce induction of labour for post-term pregnancy and improve a woman’s pregnancy experience.
  • Most women will give birth by the end of the 41st week of gestation. Spontaneous onset of labour minimizes interventions, the potential for over-medicalization of a physiologic process, and may lead to a more positive birth experience.
  • The GDG noted updated evidence from a large study from a high-income country that showed a modest level of perinatal benefits for low-risk women who underwent induction of labour at 39 completed weeks of gestation (slight reduction in caesarean section and perinatal morbidity). The evidence for perinatal benefits may not be generalizable to lower-resource settings.
    • However, in settings where induction of labour can be carried out safely, women with uncomplicated pregnancies at full term (39 weeks and up to 41 weeks of gestation) may consider induction of labour in the context of their values and preferences. These settings should be able to provide midwifery care, fetal heart rate monitoring at frequent intervals, immediate access to caesarean section, if needed, and access to pain relief. The process of joint decision-making for this and all other interventions should begin early during antenatal care (ANC) contacts.
  • The GDG noted that induction of labour can increase the use of resources (i.e. induction agents, health workers, facility preparedness) and the risk of iatrogenic complications (i.e. inadvertent prematurity). The indication for induction of labour should document the specific clinical indication or state that it was undertaken at maternal request.
  • High-quality ANC and fetal surveillance should continue until the onset of labour or induction for the indication of post-term pregnancy.
  • These recommendations pertain to women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
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Recommendation Grading

Overview

Title

Induction of Labour At Or Beyond Term

Authoring Organization

Publication Month/Year

October 5, 2022

Last Updated Month/Year

August 9, 2023

Document Type

Guideline

Country of Publication

US

Inclusion Criteria

Male, Adult

Health Care Settings

Hospital, Outpatient

Intended Users

Healthcare business administration, nurse, nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, physician, physician assistant

Scope

Management

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D000078463 - Child Labor, D007751 - Labor, Induced

Keywords

labor, labour, childbirth, induction

Source Citation

WHO recommendations on induction of labour, at or beyond term. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.