Influence of Morning Versus Midnight Initiation of Induction of Labor in Late-Term Pregnancy on Perinatal Outcome and Time of Birth

Özet

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess and compare morning vs. midnight initiation of induction of labor on time of birth and perinatal outcome. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study performed at University Hospital Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia; in the period between 2006 to 2017. The participants were low-risk nulliparous women with a gestational age over 41 weeks who had labor induced by an intracervical prostaglandin E2 analogue dinoprostone applied. Two groups were compared; the first one had induction of labor initiated in the morning and the second one at midnight. RESULTS: A total of 206 pregnant women were included in the study. Women with induction of labor starting at midnight (n=103) gave birth more often during the daytime (7 am-6.59 pm) compared to women with induction of labor starting in the morning (n=103) (p <0.01). The midnight group also gave birth more often during regular hospital working hours (7.30 am - 3.30 pm), but this result was not statistically significant (p=0.091). The rate of epidural analgesia was higher among women in the midnight group, while no other differences were observed in predefined perinatal outcome between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Initiation of induction of labor at midnight compared to morning results in giving birth more often during daytime. This presents a favorable option for reducing out of hours and night work.