Effects of Induction of Labor With Prostaglandin E2 on Fetal Breathing and Body Movements: Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind Study

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effects of prostaglandin (PG) E2, given for induction of labor at term, on fetal breathing and body movements. METHODS:Eighteen women with term pregnancies, mild gestational hypertension, intact membranes, and unripe cervices who were not in labor participated in this study. After a 60-minute baseline ultrasound examination of fetal chest and body movements, recorded on videotape, the patients were randomly assigned to either 3 mg intravaginal PGE2 tablets or controls (placebo intravaginal tablets). Following tablet insertion and a 3-hour observation time, a second 60-minute ultrasound recording of fetal movements was taped. The videotape recordings were interpreted according to the total amount of time occupied by fetal body movements and fetal breathing movements. RESULTS:There was a total of 2180 minutes of ultrasound tape recordings, with 136.2 minutes of fetal body movements (6.2%) and 207.8 minutes of fetal breathing movements (9.5%). Mean (± standard deviation) observation times per patient before and after tablet insertion were 60.3 ± 1.2 and 56.4 ± 1.2 minutes for the PGE2 group and 60.1 ± 1.3 and 60.4 ± 1.1 minutes for the control group. Three hours after PGE2 insertion, there were significant decreases in the percentage of time occupied by body movements (7.8 ± 3.1 versus 3.4 ± 2.0%; P