Table 3 Secondary outcomes after randomization to speculum or digital insertion of Foley catheter for the induction of labour in nulliparous women with unripe cervixes

Fidelity to allocated insertion technique

29 (69)

32 (73)

Use of additional method(s) for ripening

3 (7)

1 (2)

Insertion-to-balloon expulsion or removal interval (hours)

17.0 ± 5.7

15.7 ± 7.1

Epidural analgesia

8 (19)

7 (16)

Oxytocin for labor

34 (81)

36 (82)

Induction to delivery interval (hours)

30.7 ± 9.4

29.6 ± 11.5

Mode of delivery

 Spontaneous vaginal

15 (36)

12 (27)

 Operative vaginal^a

2 (5)

4 (9)

 Cesarean sections

25 (60)

28 (64)

Indication for operative vaginal

 Non-reassuring fetal status

0 (0)

2 (50)

 Failure to progress

2 (100)

2 (50)

Indications for Cesarean delivery

 Non-reassuring fetal status

7 (28)

7 (25)

 Failure to progress

18 (72)

21 (75)

 Delivery blood loss (ml)

300 [250–500]

350 [250–500]

 Postpartum hemorrhage (≥500 ml)

12 (29)

12 (27)

 Induction to discharge interval (days)

3.3 ± 0.9

3.4 ± 1.2

 Maternal satisfaction (induction to birth)

7 [6–8]

7 [7–8]⁴

 Fever^b

2 (5)

1 (2)

 Birth weight (kg)

2.94 ± 0.43

2.95 ± 0.45

 Apgar score at 5 min

10 [10–10]

10 [10–10]

 Apgar score at 5 min < = 6

0 (0)

0 (0)

 Apgar score at 1 min

9 [9–9]

9 [9–9]

 Apgar score at 1 min ≤ 4

0 (0)

0 (0)

 Admission to neonatal unit^c

5 (12)

6 (14)

 Transient tachypnea

1 (25)

1 (17)

 Severe neonatal jaundice

1 (25)

 Presumed sepsis

1 (25)

1 (17)

 Observe for heart block

1 (17)

 Hypoglycemia

1 (17)

 Grunting

1 (25)

 Congenital pneumonia

1 (25)

 Mild bilateral ventriculomegaly

1 (17)

 Meconium aspiration syndrome

1 (17)

Umbilical cord artery blood pH

7.3 ± 0.06

7.3 ± 0.06

 pH ≤ 7.1

0 (0)

0(0)

Umbilical cord artery blood base excess

−4.7 ± 2.9

−5.1 ± 3.2

 Base excess ≤ −8

6 (14)

7 (16)