WILL - When to Induce Labour to Limit risk from high blood pressure in pregnancy

 

The WILL trial aimed to find out if it is safer for women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy to have their babies delivered slightly early, or to continue monitoring the pregnancy to 40 weeks as usual.

High blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to complications for mothers and babies. Currently, most pregnant women with high blood pressure at 40 weeks are offered an induction (artificially starting labour using hormones) or Caesarean section to reduce the risks of continuing with the pregnancy. It is possible that delivering the baby before 40 weeks could reduce the chance of health problems and stillbirth. But it is also possible that an early delivery could increase the chance of complications for the baby. 

This trial tested whether planned delivery at 38 weeks is as safe as usual care monitoring the mother and baby until at least 40 weeks. It found that for mothers with high blood pressure, being induced at 38 weeks was just as safe as receiving usual care for both them and their babies. Also, three in four of the mothers who received usual care still ended up being induced before 40 weeks. Linked to this, parents said they wanted clearer information about induction of labour, what it involved and when it would happen as part of usual care.

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