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Cesarean DeliveryLIRICNCT07082530

A RCT of Labor Induction at 39 Weeks in Low - Risk Women in China

A study testing Labor Induction at 39 Weeks and Expectant management in people with Cesarean Delivery, run by Women's Hospital School Of Medicine Zhejiang University at 1 site in China.

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Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record

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Trial summary

The investigators are committed to identifying the optimal timing of delivery for low-risk pregnancies. While current guidelines typically recommend induction at 41 weeks, emerging evidence suggests that elective induction at 39 weeks may lead to improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Cesarean Delivery
What is being tested?
Labor Induction at 39 Weeks and Expectant management
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
1,074 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
30 Jul 2025to 30 Jun 2028
Phase
Interventional

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age ≥18 years.
  • Singleton pregnancy or twin pregnancy reduced to singleton before 14 weeks.
  • Gestational age between 38 weeks 4 days or 38 weeks 6 days at randomization.
  • Eligible for vaginal delivery with a desire for vaginal birth.
  • Reliable gestational age determination.
  • Maternal and fetal conditions assessed as low-risk by at least two senior obstetricians, with no indications requiring delivery before 41 weeks.
  • Ability to understand study information and provide informed consent.

Who cannot join

  • First-trimester ultrasound estimate >13 weeks 6 days.
  • Planned induction before 41 weeks.
  • Planned cesarean delivery or contraindications to vaginal delivery.
  • Already delivered, in labor, or ruptured membranes at enrollment.
  • Placenta previa, vasa previa, placenta accreta, or placental abruption.
  • Contraindications to induction (e.g., cervical cancer, history of uterine rupture, genital tract malformations, abnormal fetal position, cord prolapse).
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  • Active vaginal bleeding exceeding spotting.
  • History of cesarean delivery or uterine/cervical surgery.
  • Cervical cerclage during this pregnancy.
  • Maternal conditions not suitable for expectant management beyond 39 weeks (e.g., pregestational diabetes, gestational diabetes requiring insulin, hypertensive disorders, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy).
  • Fetal conditions not suitable for expectant management beyond 39 weeks (e.g., fetal death, major anomalies, growth restriction, macrosomia, anemia, oligohydramnios, polyhydramnios).
  • Maternal infections or positive screenings for sexually transmitted pathogens or group B Streptococcus.
  • Planned delivery at a non-study facility.
  • Participation in another intervention study affecting delivery management.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Huajing Gao, MD Candidate contact

86+18867114750

huajingg@zju.edu.cn

China1 site, 1 recruiting
  • Women's Hospital School of Medicine Zhejiang University

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310006

    Huajing Gao, MD Candidate, 86+18867114750, huajingg@zju.edu.cn

    Dan Zhang, Ph. D.

    Recruiting

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: Labor Induction in Low-risk Women at 39 Weeks of Gestation: A Randomized Trial in China

The investigators are committed to identifying the optimal timing of delivery for low-risk pregnancies. While current guidelines typically recommend induction at 41 weeks, emerging evidence suggests that elective induction at 39 weeks may lead to improved maternal and neonatal outcomes. The U.S.-based ARRIVE trial demonstrated that induction at 39 weeks significantly reduced cesarean delivery rates compared to expectant management, and a similar randomized controlled trial (French-ARRIVE) is ongoing in France. However, population-specific evidence for the Chinese population remains lacking.

This study is designed to establish a prospective cohort of low-risk pregnant women in China, comparing the effects of induction at 39 weeks, induction at 41 weeks, and expectant management on cesarean section rates and other maternal and neonatal outcomes. In addition, multi-omics technologies will be employed to analyze cord blood samples-including metabolomics and proteomics-to identify early biomarkers potentially associated with long-term child health. The study will begin with a pilot phase to assess feasibility and inform operational strategies for large-scale implementation.

The ultimate goal of this project is to generate evidence tailored to the Chinese population to support more individualized decision-making, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance maternal and neonatal safety.

Being tested
Labor Induction at 39 Weeks, Expectant management

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Labor Induction at 39 WeeksProcedure or surgery

    Labor induction at 39 weeks 0 days to 39 weeks 4 days

  • Expectant managementProcedure or surgery

    Expectant management until spontaneous labor or induction at 41 weeks.

Study groups in NCT07082530
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Induction groupExperimentalLabor induction at 39 weeks 0 days to 39 weeks 4 days
Receives: Procedure: Labor Induction at 39 Weeks
Control groupActive comparatorExpectant management until spontaneous labor or induction at 41 weeks
Receives: Procedure: Expectant management

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Incidence of cesarean section

    The proportion of deliveries completed by cesarean section

    Measured: Delivery day

Secondary outcomes (41)
  1. Composite incidence of severe neonatal morbidity and perinatal mortality

    The composite incidence of any of the following:

    1. Antepartum, intrapartum, or neonatal death
    2. Intubation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for ventilation or cardiorespiratory support within first 72 hours
    3. Apgar ≤ 3 at 5 minutes
    4. Neonatal encephalopathy
    5. Seizures
    6. Sepsis (presence of a clinically ill infant in whom systemic infection is suspected with a positive blood, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), or catheterized/suprapubic urine culture; or, in the absence of positive cultures, clinical evidence of cardiovascular collapse or an unequivocal X-ray confirming infection).
    7. Pneumonia confirmed by X-ray or positive blood culture.
    8. Meconium aspiration syndrome
    9. Birth trauma (bone fractures, brachial plexus palsy, other neurologic injury, retinal hemorrhage, facial nerve injury)
    10. Intracranial hemorrhage or subgaleal hemorrhage
    11. Hypotension requiring pressor support

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  2. Emergency Cesarean Rate

    Cesarean delivery performed immediately or shortly after clinical decision due to imminent threat to the life of the mother or fetus

    Measured: Delivery day

  3. Category 1 Emergency Cesarean Rate

    Cesarean performed within approximately 30 minutes due to immediate life-threatening conditions (e.g., uterine rupture, severe fetal distress)

    Measured: Delivery day

  4. Category 2 Emergency Cesarean Rate

    Cesarean performed within 60-75 minutes due to urgent but not immediately life-threatening indications (e.g., progressive fetal distress, labor arrest)

    Measured: Delivery day

  5. Elective Cesarean Rate

    Planned cesarean performed at or after 39 weeks in the absence of emergency conditions, meeting all of the following:

    1. Surgery scheduled ≥24 hours before onset of labor;
    2. No spontaneous contractions or rupture of membranes;
    3. Clear medical indications (e.g., placenta previa, breech presentation) or maternal request.

    Measured: Delivery day

  6. Operative Vaginal Delivery

    The rate of vaginal deliveries assisted with instruments such as forceps or vacuum.

    Measured: Delivery day

  7. Gestational Age at Delivery

    Expressed in weeks and decimal days (e.g., 39 weeks + 5 days = 39.7 weeks)

    Measured: Delivery day

  8. Chorioamnionitis

    Incidence of chorioamnionitis, defined as a clinical diagnosis before delivery as: maternal body temperature rises (>38°C) with 2 or more of the following symptoms:

    1. Maternal tachycardia (>100 beats/min);
    2. Fetal tachycardia (>160 beats/min)
    3. Uterine tenderness and irritability
    4. Purulent or malodorous amniotic fluid or vaginal discharge
    5. Maternal leukocytosis (white blood cell count > 15000/mm3)

    Measured: Delivery day

  9. Third-or fourth-degree perineal laceration

    The incidence of third-or fourth-degree perineal laceration

    Measured: Delivery day

  10. Postpartum hemorrhage

    Refer to the ARRIVE cohort, defined as any of the following situations:

    1. Transfusion
    2. Non-elective hysterectomy
    3. Use of two or more uterotonics other than oxytocin
    4. Other surgical interventions such as uterine compression sutures, uterine artery ligation, embolization and hypogastric ligation, balloon tamponade
    5. Curettage

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  11. Postpartum infection

    Refer to the ARRIVE cohort, defined as any of the following situations:

    1. Clinical diagnosis of endometritis
    2. Wound reopened for hematoma, seroma, infection or other reasons
    3. Cellulitis requiring antibiotics
    4. Pneumonia
    5. Pyelonephritis
    6. Bacteremia unknown source
    7. Septic pelvic thrombosis

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  12. ICU admission

    The proportion of admission to the ICU

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  13. Maternal death

    The incidence of maternal death

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  14. Preeclampsia/gestational hypertension

    The incidence of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension diagnosed during labor

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  15. Maternal venous thromboembolism

    Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  16. Maternal pain

    Median patient-reported pain outcomes with a 10-point Likert scale

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  17. Birth weight

    The mean birth weight

    Measured: Delivery day

  18. Female gender

    The proportion of female offspring in terms of physiological gender

    Measured: Delivery day

  19. Macrosomia

    Birth weight > 4000g

    Measured: Delivery day

  20. Incidence of large for gestational age

    According to the infant's gender and gestational age, the birth weight exceeds the 90th percentile of infants of the same gestational age

    Measured: Delivery day

  21. Incidence of small for gestational age

    According to the infant's gender and gestational age, the birth weight is less than the 10th percentile of infants of the same gestational age

    Measured: Delivery day

  22. Apgar scores at 5 min

    Apgar score at 5 minutes after birth

    Measured: Delivery day

  23. Neonatal acidosis

    The incidence of neonatal acidosis defined as umbilical artery blood pH < 7.10

    Measured: Delivery day

  24. Shoulder dystocia

    The incidence of shoulder dystocia

    Measured: Delivery day

  25. Hyperbilirubinemia

    The incidence of hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy or exchange transfusion

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  26. Transfusion of blood products or blood

    The incidence of neonatal transfusion of blood products or blood

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  27. Hypoglycemia incidence

    The incidence of hypoglycemia (blood glucose < 35mg/L) requiring intravenous treatment

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  28. Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission

    The incidence of admission to the NICU lasting more than 48 hours

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  29. Physical measurement indicators

    Infant weight, length, head circumference, chest circumference, sitting height, upper arm circumference, subcutaneous fat, height-chest circumference index, crown-rump length/length

    Measured: 6 weeks and 6 months

  30. Growth balance indicators

    Weight-for-length, length-for-age, weight-for-age z scores of infants, calculated using the World Health Organization (WHO) tool, WHO Anthro Survey Analyser

    Measured: 6 weeks and 6 months

  31. Growth retardation

    Height standard deviation for age < mean-2S or percentile method < P3

    Measured: 6 weeks and 6 months

  32. Abnormal neurological examination

    The proportion of abnormal results in neurological examinations (hearing development, nerve reflexes)

    Measured: 6 weeks and 6 months

  33. Scores of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-4)

    Total score, cognitive scale score, language scale score, motor scale score, social-emotional scale score, adaptive behavior scale score

    Measured: 6 weeks and 6 months

  34. Scores of Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ-3)

    Total score, communication domain score, gross motor domain score, fine motor domain score, problem-solving domain score, personal-social domain score

    Measured: 6 weeks and 6 months

  35. Incidence of allergic diseases

    Allergic diseases diagnosed by neonatologists, including cow's milk allergy, allergic rhinitis, eczema/allergic dermatitis, asthma, wheezing and other allergic disorders

    Measured: 6 weeks and 6 months

  36. Time from randomization to delivery

    Median time from randomization to birth of the fetus, measured in hours

    Measured: Delivery day

  37. Use of epidural analgesia

    Rate of epidural analgesia use

    Measured: Delivery day

  38. Maternal length of hospital stays

    Median maternal hospital stays, measured in hours

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  39. Neonatal length of hospital stays

    Median neonatal hospital stays, measured in hours

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  40. Pre-insurance hospitalization cost

    Total hospitalization cost during delivery, before insurance reimbursement

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

  41. Out-of-pocket hospitalization cost

    Out-of-pocket cost incurred during delivery hospitalization

    Measured: Hospital discharge (Day 2-3)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted24 Jul 2025
  2. Study start30 Jul 2025
  3. Primary completion30 Dec 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion30 Jun 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
1,074 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07082530
Sponsor's protocol ID
IRB-20250211-R
Acronym
LIRIC
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
25 Jun 2025
Last updated
30 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Deidentified individual participant data underlying the published results will be made available upon reasonable request after publication of the primary trial results. The deidentified data will be securely stored locally and shared in accordance with applicable ethical and regulatory requirements.

Publications

  • Gao H, Shen J, Chen D, Mol BW, Hu W, Liang Z, Bai X, Han X, Zhu J, Wang H, Liu X, Su C, Chen Y, Weng R, Liu Y, Li W, Zhang D. Labour induction in low-risk women at 39 weeks of gestation: a randomised trial in China (LIRIC) - protocol of an open label, randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2026 Sep 16;16(9):e123251. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2026-123251.

    PubMed 42749373

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