At 39 weeks gestation, elective induction is associated with a decrease in cesarean birth in nulliparous women, decreased pregnancy-related hypertension in multiparous and nulliparous women, and increased time in labor and delivery. This according to a recent retrospective cohort study that compared outcomes for electively induced births at ≥39 weeks gestation with those that were not electively induced at 21 hospitals in the Northwest US. Researchers found:

• 55,694 births were included in the study cohort.
• In nulliparous women, elective induction at 39 weeks gestation was associated with a decreased likelihood of cesarean birth and an increased rate of operative vaginal birth pregnancies.
• In multiparous women, cesarean birth rates were similar in the elective inductions and ongoing pregnancies.
• Elective induction at 39 weeks gestation was associated with decreased pregnancy-related hypertension in both multiparous and nulliparous women.