Is membrane sweeping a safe method for induction of labour?

44 studies (20 new to this update), reporting data for 6940 women and their infants were included.Following comparisons were made:

1)Comparing membrane sweeping with no treatment/sham

2)Comparing membrane sweeping with vaginal/intracervical prostaglandins

3)Comparing membrane sweeping with intravenous oxytocin +/‐ amniotomy

4)Comparing membrane sweeping with vaginal/oral misoprostol

5)Comparing once weekly membrane sweep with twice‐weekly membrane sweep and a sham procedure

Three studies, providing data for 675 women, reported that women indicated favourably on their experience of membrane sweeping with one study reporting that 88% (n = 312) of women questioned in the postnatal period would choose membrane sweeping in the next pregnancy. Two studies reporting data for 290 women reported that membrane sweeping is more cost‐effective than using prostaglandins, although more research should be undertaken in this area.

Membrane sweeping may be effective in achieving a spontaneous onset of labour, but the evidence for this was of low certainty. When compared to expectant management, it potentially reduced the incidence of the formal induction of labour. Research is still ongoing to know whether there is an optimal number of membrane sweeps and timings and gestation of these to facilitate induction of labour concluded the authors.

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https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD000451.pub3