Comparing Planned Early Birth Vs Expectant Management of Premature Membrane Rupture at Term

Abstract

Background: In term pregnancies, immediate delivery has been linked to reduced maternal infection risk and increased maternal satisfaction compared to expectant management.Objective: This study aimed to evaluate maternal and neonatal outcomes in cases of term pre-labor rupture of membranes, comparing planned early delivery with expectant management. Study design: Analytical cross-sectional study Place and Duration: This study was conducted in Mayo Hospital Lahore from June 2022 to June 2023 Methodology: A total of 120 eligible pregnant women were purposefully assigned to two groups, ensuring age and gestational age matching between them. The first group consisted of 60 women who underwent labor induction using oxytocin, while the second group included 60 women whose labor commenced spontaneously, unless there were indications of fetal or maternal compromise, or until a 48-hour interval had transpired. In the latter case, labor induction was initiated using oxytocin as part of the expectant management strategy. Results: The mode of childbirth displayed a substantial correlation with parity in both study cohorts (p<0.001). However, the two sets had no discernible variations in maternal and neonatal consequences. Women in the expectant management group experienced significantly longer durations from admission to active labor, active labor initiation, and rupture of membranes to delivery (p<0.001, 0.03, and <0.001, respectively). onclusion: Both induction and expectant labor approaches yielded similar maternal and neonatal outcomes, although women in the expectant management group endured longer labor durations.