Effect of Membrane Sweeping on the Initiation of Spontaneous Labour

Abstract

Background: Membrane sweeping causes induction of labour by release of prostaglandins, and other hormones. Aim: To determine efficacy of membrane sweeping on induction of spontaneous labour in post-date women. Study design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and duration of study: Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Health Bridge Hospital, Ghazi Road, Lahore from 1st January 2020 to 31st December 2020. Methodology: One hundred and fifty pregnantwomen with ≥40 weeks of gestationwere randomly divided into two groups of 75 pregnant women each. Group A were those who consented for undergoing membrane sweeping whereas group B did not undergo this process. Results: The mean age of the enrolled pregnant women was25.7±3.05 years. The mean duration of pregnancy in group A was 40.1±0.2 weeks and in group B was 40.2±0.1 weeks. Regarding spontaneous onset of labour, in group A, 38(50.6%) patients went into labour with sweeping of membranes and in group B, 10(13.4%) patients had spontaneous onset of labour. There were only two cases of infection reported in Group A and one in group B. Conclusion: Membrane sweeping for natural induction of spontaneous labour. Key words: Membrane sweeping, Labour induction, Efficacy