ARRIVE Study

STUDY BASICS

Are you in your third trimester of pregnancy with your first baby and planning to deliver at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC? You may be able to take part in a research study to find out if inducing labor (starting your labor with medicine) and delivering a baby at 39 weeks of pregnancy can improve the baby’s health at birth. Compensation provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

Many doctors wait until 41 weeks of pregnancy for labor to start on its own. However, some research studies, but not all, have shown that inducing labor at 39 weeks of pregnancy may improve the baby’s health at birth. The purpose of this study is to find out if inducing labor at 39 weeks of pregnancy can improve the baby’s health at birth when compared with waiting for labor to start on its own.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Age 18 and up
• Less than 38 weeks pregnant with only one baby
• Having first baby
• Planning to labor (not planning to be induced or have C-section)
• Receiving pregnancy care and planning to deliver at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

Participants will be placed randomly (like flipping a coin) into one of two study groups: either having labor induced at 39 weeks or waiting until you reach 41-42 weeks of pregnancy (1-2 weeks after due date), at which time labor will be induced if necessary. Treatment for both groups is according to routine care guidelines, which means that all care during pregnancy and during labor will be at the discretion of your pregnancy care provider. Participants will also complete questionnaires before and after the baby is born.