Maternal outcomes
Maternal outcomes in the study groups are compared in Table 3. The successful vaginal delivery rate in the full-term group was significantly higher than that in the late-term group (90% versus 80%, P<0.001), and the rate of episiotomy was also significantly decreased (41% versus 49%, P=0.011). The risk of ICS in the full-term group was significantly lower than that in the late-term group (8% versus 16%, P<0.001). Significant differences were not observed between the full-term and late-term groups in cephalopelvic disproportion (6% versus 10%, P=0.073) or foetal distress (29% versus 39%, P=0.133). The rate of MSAF in the late-term group was significantly higher than that in the full-term group (19% versus 13%, P=0.004). The epidural analgesia rate during labour in the full-term group was lower than that in the late-term group (76% versus 81%, P=0.034). Significant differences were not observed in labour duration, postpartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, or intrapartum cervical laceration rates between the two groups.
Compared with the late-term group, the full-term group had a higher risk of PROM (RR 2.04; 95% CI 1.49-2.79), spontaneous labour (RR 4.58; 95% CI 3.55-5.92), GDM (RR 2.11; 95% CI 1.46-3.07) and vaginal delivery (RR 2.33; 95% CI 1.72-3.15) and a lower risk of episiotomy (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.58-0.93), as shown in Fig. 2. Compared with the full-term group, the late-term group had a higher risk of balloon catheter combined with oxytocin induction (RR 8.54; 95%CI 6.49-11.24) but lower success risk (RR 0.51, 95%CI 0.26-1.01), a higher oxytocin induction risk (RR 1.38; 95%CI 1.07-1.77), a higher AROM induction risk (RR 1.64; 95%CI 1.28-2.09) but lower success risk (RR 0.50, 95%CI 0.31-0.83), a higher MSAF risk (RR 1.53, 95%CI 1.14-2.04) and a higher ICS risk (RR 2.19; 95%CI 1.63-2.94), as shown in Fig. 3.