Outpatient Foley Catheter for Labor Induction in First-Time Mothers
A multicenter pragmatic randomized trial evaluating effectiveness and safety of outpatient Foley catheter for cervical ripening in nulliparous women: a Type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation study
This research looks at whether using a Foley catheter at home to start labor for first-time mothers is safe and helps reduce the need for a C-section.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11128341 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many women need help starting labor, and sometimes this leads to a C-section. This project explores if starting the labor induction process, specifically cervical ripening with a Foley catheter, can be done safely at home instead of in the hospital. The idea is that being at home might help you relax more, get better sleep, and potentially reduce the number of medical interventions, which could lower the chance of needing a C-section. This large study will compare the at-home approach to the standard hospital-based method to see if it's a better option for you.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are first-time mothers who are undergoing labor induction and meet specific health criteria.
Not a fit: Patients who are not first-time mothers or are not undergoing labor induction would not be candidates for this specific approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could help first-time mothers have a more comfortable labor induction experience and significantly lower their risk of having a C-section.
How similar studies have performed: While smaller studies have shown promising early results for outpatient Foley use, this will be the first large, multicenter trial to confirm its effectiveness and safety.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levine, Lisa Danielle — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Levine, Lisa Danielle
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.