Effect of a "Hard Stop" on Elective Labor Inductions and Cesarean Delivery Rate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a "hard stop" on elective induction prior to 39 weeks at a large volume obstetrics hospital. STUDY DESIGN: From July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013, there were 27,435 deliveries at our institution. We performed a retrospective chart review of all elective inductions I year before and after the implementation of a 39 week "hard stop" .policy. All women (n=2,574) who underwent elective induction of labor were analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of cesarean delivery was not sta- tistically different between the group evaluated before the "hard stop" and those after (20.6% vs 18%). The rate of postpartum hemorrhage decreased significantly following the policy change (6.2% vs 3.2%, respectively). There were no other clinically important differences in maternal or neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a "hard stop" policy aimed at eliminating elective inductions before 39 weeks did not affect the rate of cesarean birth.