Induction of labour versus expectant management for well women and babies in pregnancies extending beyond 41 weeks: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Existing research concluding that there is increased perinatal mortality and morbidity when pregnancy extends beyond 42 weeks includes women and babies with known risks for increased mortality and morbidity. Objectives: To investigate benefits and harms of a policy of induction of labour for well women and babies when pregnancy extends beyond 41 weeks. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Medline, Web of Science Core Collection and SCOPUS databases for randomised controlled trials published from 1996 to September 2017 comparing induction of labour from 41 weeks gestation with expectant management for women and babies with no known obstetric or medical risk factors. Studies were quality assessed by two reviewers and data extracted and analysed using Review Manager 5 software. Main outcome measures: Primary: perinatal mortality. Secondary: Apgar