Demonstrating that Labor Induction of At-Risk-Pregnant Women at Kennestone Hospital Leads to Better Health Outcomes

Background: The process of labor induction involves the artificial initiation of labor/stimulation of uterine contractions in pregnant women, through mechanical methods or medication use. The purpose of this research is to show that while spontaneous labor is preferred by most patients, labor induction for certain indications, not only leads to better patient outcomes but also the avoidance of C-sections. Brief literature: Historically, women dying during childbirth or postpartum was common, but with technological and scientific advancements, it is now a rare occurrence. Care at Kennestone Hospital doesn’t just involve mitigating damages inflicted by illness, trauma, or others, but also focuses on prevention. It was with this thought in mind that it was found that inducing labor in cases of emergencies, for patients with certain indications, like the health status of the mother and child or infection prevention, was detrimental to improving health outcomes in the labor and delivery unit. Methods: A secondary study will be conducted, of a retrospective group of all the full-term at-risk women at Kennestone Hospital labor and delivery unit, between 2012 and 2022. The outcomes of the women who accepted the suggestion of labor induction will be compared to those who refused. Evaluation: Analysis of the results will be performed using surveys and will be broken down into categories: health outcomes of women who insisted on spontaneous labor even though it was a contraindication for their situation, and those who chose labor induction based on the provider’s suggestion. Keywords: labor induction, Kennestone Hospital, spontaneous labor, mechanical induction, and medication inductio