In France, the rate of labor induction increased from 20% to 25% of deliveries between 2016 and 2021. This recently dramatic increase also reported in other high income settings, is likely in part related to the publication of the ARRIVE trial (Grobman, NEJM 2018). Before it, induction of labor was usually proposed in case of condition potentially associated to a higher maternal or fetal risk with expectant management compared with an immediate delivery. The ARRIVE trial, a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial suggests a short-term maternal-fetal benefit to systematic induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation (experimental arm) compared to an expectant management (control arm) in low-risk nulliparous women, with a decreasing trend of adverse perinatal outcome and a significant lower risk of cesarean delivery and maternal hypertensive disorders. Because the generalizability of these results in US outside settings is unknown (as the maternal characteristics, national rate of cesareans and organization and access of care differ in US from an European country including France, this trial is currently replicating in France (FRENCH-ARRIVE trial, PHRCN n° 19-0063) (Sentilhes et al, Lancet 2023; Azria et al, AJOG 2023;)
Regardless of its results (which are not yet available), mid-term follow-up of children born to mothers enrolled in the FRENCH-ARRIVE trial, through the FAMILY-FA project, is crucial:
1 / In absence of comparative data, it remains unknown whether the mid-term child health differs or not according to the late pregnancy management, through the bias of reduction the gestational age at delivery from 41 to 39 weeks for women undergoing an induction of labor, and with possible differences in mode of delivery (all these parameters being associated to mid-term child's health).
2/ For the informed decision making for the women who reach 39 weeks gestation (i.e. the large majority of the pregnant women). Only mid-term data in early childhood after induction of labor for medical reason compared to expectant management are available; but they are obviously flawed by the indication that required the induction of labor (e.g. fetal growth restriction, premature of membranes, etc).
Thus, the first objective of the FAMILY-FA project is to evaluate the mid-term effect of elective induction of labor at 39 weeks of gestation compared with an expectant attitude in low-risk nulliparous women on child neurodevelopment at 5 years.
Similarly, mid-term follow-up of mothers enrolled in the FRENCH-ARRIVE trial with the assessment of obstetrical issues in case of future pregnancy, and maternal mental health, through the FAMILY-FA project, is essential:
1. No comparative data are available on the obstetrical issues including mode of delivery in case of a subsequent pregnancy (the possible reduction of cesarean associated to the elective induction of labor at 39 weeks compared to an expectant management might be associated to a lower rate of cesarean and maternal and neonatal morbidity in a subsequent pregnancy).
2. We have recently shown that induction of labor for medical reason was associated with impairment of maternal mental health in postpartum
3. By assessing the maternal mental health as well as the other components of the life of the women (single or not, subsequent pregnancy or not) concomitantly to assessing the offspring development will allow us to taking into account potential cofounders associated to pediatric neurodevelopment (primary objective of our project). In fact, high quality evidence show that impaired maternal mental health affects intra-familial relationships and may impair the child's development.
