Selective induction of labour following administration of an oral prostaglandin E2 0.5 mg tablet hourly

Induction of labour was performed on 20 patients with favourable induction features by amniotomy and administration of a fixed dose of 0.5 mg of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) hourly. Effective uterine action resulted in a mean time to delivery of 6 hrs 57 mins in primagravid patients and 4 hrs 40 mins in multigravid subjects. In two patients an intravenous oxytocin infusion was used to assist labour. There were no significant maternal or fetal side effects.