Incarta, in partnership with Neoventa, is supporting a national audit on the use of intravenous (IV) fluid boluses during induction of labour (IOL). Led by Dr. Darren Lowen, Staff Specialist Anaesthetist at The Northern Hospital, Victoria, this study aims to examine current practices around IV fluid bolus administration in labour inductions across Australian maternity units.

While fluid boluses are often a routine component of intrapartum care, there are currently no formal guidelines—and limited published data—on their timing, volume, type, or clinical indication (Lowen, Carlon, & Hodgson, 2023; Lowen, Howat, & Hodgson, 2023). This world-first audit aims to capture a national snapshot of how IV bolus therapy is being implemented in practice. By identifying common trends and underlying rationales, the findings will help inform the development of future evidence-based guidelines for maternity care.

Dr. Lowen brings significant expertise in obstetric fluid management, having previously led two national audits exploring IV fluid use during IOL from both obstetric and midwifery perspectives (Lowen, Carlon, & Hodgson, 2023; Lowen, Howat, & Hodgson, 2023). These studies revealed marked variation in practice—both across and within institutions—highlighting the urgent need for more consistent, evidence-informed approaches.

Incarta’s Collaborative Role and Future Impact

Incarta’s Manager of Obstetric Services, Bailey Cohen, is actively coordinating hospital recruitment for the audit, facilitating collaboration across maternity units nationwide. By bringing together obstetricians, midwives, and researchers, Incarta is helping to ensure the audit captures a broad and representative dataset.

This involvement as both a supporter and facilitator reflects Incarta’s commitment to advancing evidence-based maternity care through education, clinical partnership, and sector-wide engagement.

As a collaborative, first-of-its-kind initiative, the project has the potential to shape clinical policies and training frameworks on a national scale. Its findings aim to assist the development of future national clinical guidelines and contribute to safer, more consistent care for women undergoing labour induction.

References

Lowen, D. J., Carlon, N., & Hodgson, R. (2023). A survey of Australian midwifery intravenous fluid management during induction of labour. Collegian. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2023.07.003

Lowen, D. J., Howat, P., & Hodgson, R. (2023). An Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand audit of obstetric fluid management during induction of labor. Journal of Clinical Gynecology and Obstetrics, 12(3), 71–77. https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo924

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