Prostaglandins or balloon for induction of labour at term

Induction of labour is an intervention designed to artificially initiate
uterine contractions leading to progressive dilatation and effacement of the
cervix and birth of the baby. Induction of labour is a common procedure:
twenty-two percent of all deliveries were induced in the Netherlands in 2007.
Compared to the spontaneous onset of labour, induction of labour is associated
with prolonged labour, more instrumental deliveries and a higher rate of
caesarean sections, especially when the cervix is unfavourable.
A recent Dutch survey showed a wide variety of methods being in use for
induction of labour, intravaginal prostaglandin gel being used most frequently.
A less frequently utilized method of ripening the uterine cervix is the
transcervical Foley catheter. This inexpensive method is reported to have
similar success-rates to induction of labour with intravaginal prostaglandins,
and is associated with fewer abnormalities of contraction pattern and a lower
caesarean section rate.

To assess in term pregnant women with an unfavourable cervix (Bishop score < 6,
Appendix1) the effectiveness of induction of labour with a transcervical Foley
catheter as compared to induction with prostaglandins.

Multicentre Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Induction of labour with a transcervical Foley catheter as opposed to
intravaginal prostaglandins

Because we will compare two standard procedures, there will be no extra risk or
burden for participants of the study.