الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Induction of labor refers to iatrogenic stimulation of uterine contractions to accomplish delivery prior to the onset of spontaneous labor. Induction of labor is undertaken when both of the following criteria are met: Continuing the pregnancy is believed to be associated with greater maternal or fetal risk than intervention to deliver the pregnancy, and there is no contraindication to vaginal birth. Glucocorticoids are now known to play key roles in fetal maturation for example in maturation of the lung in anticipation of extra-uterine life. Also, glucocorticoids induce the production of CRH by the placenta and the production of prostaglandins (PGF2 and PGE2) by the fetal membrane in humans. Therefore, glucocorticoids also play an important role in human parturition. In this study 140 termed pregnant women were included and divided into two groups, Dexamethasone group injected with 2 ml of the product (dexamethasone) 6 hours before initiation of labor induction and Control group injected with 2 ml distilled water 6 hours before initiation of labor induction. The two groups were induced by the same standard protocol .Determination of interval between initiation of induction and beginning of active phase, duration of active phase , duration of 2nd stage and duration 3rd stage have been detected for both groups and statistically analyzed . There were no significant statistical differences between the two studied groups as regards the age, gestational age on admission date, body mass index (BMI), pulse, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, cervical dilatation, effacement, cervical position, consistency, head station, Bishop score, mode of delivery and Apgar score. There were significant statistical differences between the two studied groups as regard rate of cervical dilatation. There were high significant statistical differences between the two studied groups as regard duration between initiation of labor induction and beginning of active phase of labor, duration of active phase of labor and duration of second stage of labor. In conclusion, an intramuscular injection of dexamethasone before labor induction is found to shorten the duration of labor induction by decreasing the interval between the initiation of induction and the beginning of the active phase, duration of active phase and duration of second stage of labor with no observed maternal or neonatal complications.