Labour induction with balloon catheter leads to fewer adverse perinatal events including stillbirth and neonatal ICU admission than vaginal prostaglandins, a meta-analysis by Melbourne-led doctors reveals.

Although both methods had comparable caesarean delivery rates and maternal safety profiles, single- and double-balloon catheters were found to be safer for newborns.

“What all this means is perinatal safety should be carefully assessed in shared decision-making and policymaking around choices of labour induction methods,” said senior author and clinical epidemiologist Dr Wentao Li from Monash University.

Writing in The Lancet, Dr Li and colleagues reported findings from their analysis of 12 studies — including three Australian trials — involving nearly 5500 women with singleton pregnancies who received either balloon catheter or vaginal prostaglandins for labour induction.