Table 1.
Summary of maternal characteristics and data on labour and delivery according to labour onset
| Characteristics | Induction of labour N = 220 | Spontaneous labour N = 242 | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primipara | 95 (43) | 102 (42) | 0.82 |
| Age (years) | 31 ± 4.5 | 31 ± 4.4 | 0.91 |
| ≥35 | 56 (26) | 63 (26) | |
| <35 | 163 (74) | 179 (74) | |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 25 ± 5 | 26 ± 22 | 0.29 |
| Height (cm) | 166 ± 17 | 166 ± 12 | 085 |
| Intecurrent disease | 32 (15) | 29 (11) | 0.47 |
| Smoking during pregnancy | 15 (7) | 27 (12) | 0.10 |
| Assisted fertilization | 28 (13) | 49 (21) | 0.03 |
| Dichoriotic diamniotic twins | 160 (76) | 181 (77) | 0.62 |
| Gestational length (weeks) | 38 ± 2 | 36 ± 2 | <0.001 |
| <36 | 15 (7) | 76 (31) | |
| 36-38 | 143 (65) | 136 (56) | |
| >38 | 62 (28) | 30 (12) | |
| Complication to the pregnancy1 | 93 (42) | 53 (22) | <0.001 |
| Premature rupture of membranes | 9 (4) | 14 (6) | 0.39 |
| Epidural | 87 (41) | 89 (38) | 0.55 |
| Oxytocin | 186 (84) | 176 (73) | 0.002 |
| Oxytocin, minutes | 300 (120–550) | 100 (42–237) | <0.001 |
| Protracted labour | 44 (20) | 51 (21) | 0.88 |
| Duration of labour, minutes | 244 (132–404) | 225 (121–426) | 0.63 |
| First stage | 195 (95–330) | 162 (90–330) | 0.32 |
| Second stage2 | 30 (14–82) | 30 (16–87) | 0.30 |
| Bearing down | 16 (8–30) | 15 (7–29) | 0.50 |
| Long labour (>12 hours) | 9 (5) | 12 (6) | 0.66 |
| Vacuum delivery | 37 (17) | 36 (15) | 0.57 |
| Caesarean section | 47 (21) | 30 (12) | 0.01 |
| Breech 1st twin | 5 (2) | 14 (6) | 0.13 |
| Breech 2nd twin | 65 (29) | 71 (29) | 0.97 |
Data are presented as n (%), mean (standard deviation) and median (interquartile range)
1Preeclampsia, hypertension, diabetes, intrahepatic cholestasis, intrauterine growth retardation, anaemia, and oligohydramniosis
2Includes passive and active (bearing down) second stage