OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to explore maternal and neonatal morbidities and co-morbidities related to induction of labor. BACKGROUND: Most labor and delivery nurses care for women who are undergoing induction of labor. Often times, induction of labor is necessary due to maternal or fetal conditions that may adversely impact the health of the mother or newborn if the pregnancy is prolonged (ACOG, 1999). However, the increases in induction which have been seen indicate a more elective option rather than therapeutic (MacDorman et al., 2002; Zlatnick, 1999).  In the United States, the rate of induction of labor has risen dramatically and is the most commonly performed procedure in obstetrics (Heimstad, Roumdstad, Eik-Nes, & Salvesen, 2006). According to the National Vital Statistics (National Center for Health Statistics, 2002) in 2002, the rate of induction increased to 20.5 per 1000 live births. As the rate of induction increases, are maternal and neonatal morbidities and co-morbidities rising as well? It is hypothesized that patients who have their labors induced have higher maternal and neonatal morbidities and co-morbidities compared to patients who spontaneously go into labor. DESIGN: This study design is a retrospective and prospective comparative descriptive study. SAMPLE and METHODS: The medical records of patients who were admitted to the hospital for induction of labor and spontaneous labor during the same time frame were reviewed. The data were collected for a six month period for a total of 801 women (408 induction group and 393 spontaneous labor group) and their newborns (801 for both groups) for a total of 1602 medical records. DATA ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and frequencies were utilized for the medical information. SPSS for Windows version 13.0 (SPSSS, Inc, Chicago, Ill) was used for data analysis. An ANOVA calculated the data between groups. A two-tailed alpha level of .05 was utilized for all statistical tests. RESULTS: Women who underwent induction of labor had a higher incidence of cesarean section (19.4%) as compared to women who had a spontaneous labor (6.6%). Elective induction of labor was the most frequent indication found in the medical records (26.1%, n=209) followed by postdates indication. (9.6%, n=77). A statistical significance was achieved for postpartum bleeding as a complication (p=.003) for women who were induced as compared to women who did not have their labors induced. The average time for length of rupture of membranes was 6 hours and 10 minutes for the induction group and 3 hours and 43 minutes for the spontaneous labor group. There were no significant neonatal complications in either group. CONCLUSION: The results of this research study demonstrate that there is a higher risk for cesarean section in women undergoing induction of labor and women have a higher risk of postpartum bleeding as a complication. Women who are contemplating elective induction of labor must be fully informed of the risks and adverse effects that may arise as a result of induction of labor.