The Stimulation To Induce Mothers Study (NCT05079841)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The investigators propose a parallel group randomized clinical trial of intrapartum nipple stimulation versus exogenous oxytocin infusion for nulliparous women undergoing induction of labor near term. The central hypothesis is that intrapartum nipple stimulation to induce labor increases spontaneous vaginal delivery, improves patient-centered outcomes such as childbirth satisfaction, labor agentry, and pain scores, and reduces adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes in nulliparous women. The investigators will pursue the following specific aims: 1) Assess the effectiveness of intrapartum nipple stimulation on the rate of spontaneous vaginal delivery in nulliparous women, 2) Breastfeeding as the sole source of nutrition at time of maternal hospital discharge (Primary Aims); 3) Maximal percent newborn weight loss during the birth hospitalization within 72 hours of life, 4) Determine the effect of intrapartum nipple stimulation on the rate of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, 5) Determine the impact of intrapartum nipple stimulation on patient-centered outcomes and 6) In a sub-cohort of women who are enrolled in the trial, investigators will measure the change in oxytocin concentration from baseline to time at which patient achieves a regular contraction pattern.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (6 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (16 items).
Location: Yale New Haven Hospital — New Haven, Connecticut
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Unable to understand English or Spanish
- Prior use of exogenous oxytocin or attempt at nipple stimulation during the current pregnancy
- Presence of tachysystole (defined as more than 5 contractions in 10 minutes averaged over 30 minutes), recurrent variable or late fetal decelerations, and bradycardia in the prior 30 minutes before enrollment
- Non-vertex presenting fetus at time of enrollment
- Planned for cesarean delivery or contraindication to labor by institutional policy (e.g., placenta previa, vasa previa, active genital herpes infection, previous transmural myomectomy)
- Multi-fetal gestation (e.g., twins, triplets, and higher-order multiples)
- Intrauterine fetal death
- Major fetal anomaly suspected prenatally (defined as a fetal anomaly with anticipated neonatal intensive care unit admission)
- Suspected alloimmunization (given the increased likelihood for anticipated neonatal intensive care unit admission)
- Known severe fetal growth restriction (estimated fetal weight \<3rd percentile) or abnormal umbilical artery Doppler studies (given the increased likelihood for anticipated neonatal intensive care unit admission)
- HIV infection (nipple stimulation is not encouraged given the recommendation for these mothers not to breastfeed)
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (3 Sites)
- Yale New Haven Hospital — New Haven, Connecticut
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital — Chicago, Illinois
- Weill Cornell Medicine — New York, New York
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.