Women's experiences and attitudes towards expectant management and induction of labor for post‐term pregnancy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background. Clinical guidelines for post‐term management differ, and studies on women's attitudes are lacking. We aimed to assess the experiences and attitudes among women managed with serial antenatal monitoring or induction of labor, and the effects of post‐term pregnancy on self‐reports of quality of life. Methods. Women were randomized at 41weeks to immediate induction of labor or antenatal fetal surveillance every third day. At inclusion women answered a questionnaire about their attitudes towards post‐term pregnancy and health‐related quality of life. This was repeated in a follow‐up phone interview 6months later, including questions about their experiences of labor and perspective on future deliveries. Results. A total of 508women entered the study. At 41weeks 74% of all women preferred to be induced. Women reported good general and mental health, but physical health and vitality scores were low. In the induction group, 74% of women said they would prefer the same management in future pregnancies; only 38% of women who had serial antenatal monitoring would prefer this option again (pn = 157 versus n = 118, pn = 116 versus n = 87, pConclusion. Women preferred induction of labor to serial antenatal monitoring beyond 41weeks. Labors were shorter and contractions were reported to be more frequent and intense in the induction group compared with the monitored group. However, their experience with labor induction was positive.