Breast stimulation for cervical ripening and induction of labour.

Breast stimulation has been suggested as an effective means of inducing labour. It is both an inexpensive and non-medical intervention which allows women greater control over the induction process. It is not clear how breast stimulation increases uterine contractions, however it has been shown to be effective for contraction stress tests and for the augmentation of labour. This is one of a series of reviews of methods of cervical ripening and labour induction using a standardised methodology.