Efficacy of Membrane Sweeping in Primigravida and Effect on the Duration of Pregnancy

Prolonged pregnancies, defined as those extending beyond 40 weeks of gestation pose increased risks to both maternal and fetal health, including higher rates of cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and neonatal complications. Membrane sweeping is a non-pharmacological, mechanical method of labour induction that is often used to reduce the likelihood of post-term pregnancies and their associated risks. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of membrane sweeping in initiating spontaneous labour and its effect on the duration of pregnancy in women with term pregnancies. Methods: A Quasi-experimental study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, from September 2023 to March 2024. One hundred and thirty-six primigravida women aged 40 to 42 weeks who underwent membrane sweeping for labour induction were selected. Effectiveness was assessed in terms of initiation of spontaneous labour. Other parameters considered were maternal and fetal outcomes. Results: Spontaneous labour was successfully initiated in 76.5% of patients and notably reduced the mean gestational age at delivery (40.49 ± 0.591 weeks) compared to those who did not achieve spontaneous labour (41.72 ± 0.581 weeks, p=0.0001). Most patients required one or two sweeps to achieve labour, demonstrating the effectiveness of membrane sweeping in reducing pregnancy duration. Conclusions: It was concluded that membrane sweeping is an effective and non-invasive method for initiating spontaneous labour and reducing pregnancy duration, minimizing the need for medical induction and preventing post-term pregnancies.