Comparison of prostaglandin and mechanical cervical ripening in the setting of small for gestational age neonates

Abstract Objective: To determine whether cervical ripening with misoprostol (MP) is associated with higher rates of cesarean delivery (CD) (CD) compared to dinoprostone (DP) or Pitocin/Foley balloon (PFB) in infants found to be small for gestational age (SGA). Study design: Single center institution based cohort study of all inductions between 2008–2012 where birth weight was found to be as SGA (< 10th percentile). Maternal demographic, obstetric, and labor characteristics were compared between SGA births where cervical ripening with MP, Mode compares MP to referent group (DP), or PFB was used as the primary agent. The primary outcome was CD after attempted induction between the three study groups which included; MP, DP, and PFB. Secondary outcomes included inability to achieve active labor (defined as cervical dilation of 6 cm or greater), cervical dilation at the time of CD, the incidence of CD for the indication of nonreassuring fetal status, and neonatal outcomes including Apgar scores and admission t...