In women who underwent induction of labor or planned cesarean delivery in indicated preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation, maternal and neonatal outcomes did not differ based on intended mode of delivery. This according to a retrospective cohort study of all indicated singleton preterm births in a tertiary center from 2011 to 2014. Primary maternal outcome was a composite of early postpartum hemorrhage, blood transfusion, operative complications, postpartum complications, and clinical chorioamnionitis. Primary neonatal outcome was a composite of neonatal death, cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the delivery room, grade 3 or 4 intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, culture-proven sepsis, birth trauma, arterial cord gas pH <7 or base excess <−12, and 5-minute Apgar score ≤3. Outcomes were compared by intended mode of delivery. Researchers found:

• Of 629 patients with indicated early preterm births during the study period, 331 (53%) underwent induction of labor; 208 (63%) delivered vaginally.
• Induction of labor was not associated with an increased risk of the primary maternal or neonatal composite outcome.
• Induction of labor should be considered when early preterm birth is indicated.