Membrane Stripping to Reduce Postdate Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objectives: To compare delivery before 40 weeks of gestation between the pregnant women who had membrane stripping and those with no intervention.Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventy-eight pregnant women, gestational age of 38 weeks or more who attended antenatal care clinic at Khon Kaen Hospital from January to July, 2016 were randomized into two groups: membrane stripping group and no intervention group. The proportion of pregnant women who delivered before 40 weeks of gestation was analyzed.Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The proportion of women who delivered before 40 weeks of gestation in membrane stripping group was significantly higher than no intervention group (69.3% VS 51.1%, p=0.01) (RR=0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9). There was no significant difference in cesarean section rate, maternal complications and neonatal outcomes between groups.Conclusion: Membrane stripping can reduce postdate pregnancy.

Keywords

• Postdate pregnancy
• membrane stripping.