Induction of labor in MSers

#MSBlog Having a baby? You will find this post of interest. 

Epub: Lu et al. Labor induction and augmentation in women with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler. 2013. 

BACKGROUND: Fatigue and pelvic organ dysfunction are common among women MSers, which may prolong labor and increase the risk of labor induction and/or augmentation.

OBJECTIVE: These investigators set out to study the association between MS and related clinical factors (disease duration and the Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS) with labor induction/augmentation.

METHODS: Data from the British Columbia (BC) MS database were linked with the BC Perinatal Database Registry. Multivariable models were used to compare the likelihood of labor induction and augmentation between attempted vaginal deliveries (1998-2009) in women with MS (n=381) and the general population (n=2615).

RESULTS: In the MS cohort, 94/381 deliveries (25%) required labor induction and 147/381 deliveries (39%) required labor augmentation. Having MS was not associated with labor induction (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.68-1.22, p=0.54) or augmentation (adjusted OR=0.91; 95% CI=0.72-1.15, p=0.43), but was associated with multiple methods of labor induction (OR=1.94; 95% CI=1.23-3.06, p=0.004). A higher EDSS score was associated with an increased risk of labor induction (adjusted p=0.04), but not labor augmentation (adjusted p > 0.5). Disease duration was not associated with either outcome (adjusted p > 0.2).
CONCLUSIONS: Greater intervention may be required to initiate labor for women with a higher degree of disability due to MS.


"These results are to be expected; woman MSers with higher levels of disability may have problems in labor and have a higher chance of needing assistance. Overall however it appears that woman with MS generally do well in labor. More good news for woman MSers."

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