Experiences of induction of labor with a catheter - A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing the outpatient and inpatient setting.

INTRODUCTION: Approximately every fourth labor is induced. In Finland, when labor is induced, it is commonly carried out with a catheter in the inpatient (IP) setting. However, in uncomplicated, full-term pregnancies, induction of labor (IOL) in the outpatient (OP) setting is also possible. Nevertheless, there is only a limited amount of information about the experiences of IOL in OP setting. Our study compared the experiences of catheter IOL in OP and IP settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective randomized study, including 113 women with uncomplicated full-term pregnancies with planned IOL. After catheter insertion, women were randomized into OP or IP settings: after dropouts, there were 53 women in the OP group and 54 in the IP. The experiences of IOL were evaluated with three sets of visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaires: the general experience questionnaire (eight questions), the concurrent induction experience questionnaire (1, 5, 9, 13 hours; nine questions) and the postpartum experience questionnaire (14 questions). RESULTS: Both groups had low VAS scores, indicating good experiences of IOL. Women in the OP group were less satisfied (mean VAS difference Δ = 7.8, P = .015) and more anxious (Δ = 4.8, P = .008) than were women in the IP group. In the course of the IOL, all women became less satisfied (Δ = 8.4, P = .001), had more contraction pain (Δ = 8.9, P = .020) and had a higher frequency of contractions (Δ = 9.9, P = .004) but they were more relaxed and experienced less fear (Δ = 6.9, P = .036, Δ = 5.3, P = .001, respectively). There was no interaction between group and time. According to the postpartum experience questionnaire, both groups had a similar good general experience of IOL (P = .736) but the OP group had more fear (Δ = 9.5, P = .009) and was more anxious (Δ = 9.0, P = .007). Most of the women would choose catheter IOL in a subsequent pregnancy (OP 82.6%, IP 87.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The women in the OP setting were less satisfied and more anxious than were the women in the IP setting. However, the differences were marginal and the general experience after IOL was good. IOL in an OP setting is thus a viable option in low-risk full-term pregnancies. Therefore, when using catheter IOL, both setting options should be available.

Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances in late pregnancy: Associations with experience of induction of labor with a catheter.

OBJECTIVE: Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances have been found to be associated with negative labor experiences, particularly an increased level of pain. However, the associations between maternal depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances and the experience of induction of labor (IOL) remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated these associations with balloon catheter IOL. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was conducted on 106 women with planned IOL. Depressive symptoms were evaluated with The Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and sleep disturbances with the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire (BNSQ) at the beginning of IOL. The IOL experience was investigated both during the IOL and postpartum with the same nine visual analogue scale (VAS) questions. RESULTS: Regarding sleep disturbances, during the IOL, women with worse general sleep quality were less satisfied (P = 0.019), less relaxed (P = 0.008), experienced more pain in general (P = 0.002) and reported higher contraction frequency (P = 0.003). Furthermore, women who experienced difficulties falling asleep were less relaxed (P = 0.009), reported more general pain (P < 0.001) and contraction pain (P = 0.005), while those with more daytime sleepiness reported less contraction pain (P = 0.033). In postpartum, women with worse general sleep quality reported more general pain (P = 0.003), while women with longer sleep duration and those with higher sleep loss reported more anxiety (P = 0.009 and P = 0.024, respectively). Additionally, women who woke up too early in the morning were less satisfied (P = 0.042), less relaxed (P = 0.004) and reported more general pain (P = 0.018). However, those who experienced more frequent nocturnal awakenings reported being more relaxed (P = 0.014) and having less general pain (P = 0.033). Higher depressive symptoms were associated with a higher frequency of contractions during IOL (P = 0.030), but with less general pain in postpartum (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Women with sleep disturbances during pregnancy were more likely to report more negative experiences during the IOL. Specifically, they reported more pain, feeling less relaxed and they were less satisfied with IOL. Conversely, the association between depressive symptoms and the experience of IOL seemed weaker. Thus, the quality of sleep of pregnant women is important for a better experience of IOL.