Prolonged pregnancy

Pregnancy that continues beyond 42 weeks of gestation (post-term) confers increased antepartum and intrapartum fetal risk. Maternal risk may also be associated with post-term pregnancy, for example via increased likelihood of delivery via emergency Caesarean section. The increased likelihood of adve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Obstetrics, gynaecology and reproductive medicine gynaecology and reproductive medicine, 2021-06, Vol.31 (6), p.170-174
Main Authors: Latif, Sara, Aiken, Catherine
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
expectant management
induction of labour
post-maturity
post-term
stillbirth
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Summary:Pregnancy that continues beyond 42 weeks of gestation (post-term) confers increased antepartum and intrapartum fetal risk. Maternal risk may also be associated with post-term pregnancy, for example via increased likelihood of delivery via emergency Caesarean section. The increased likelihood of adverse perinatal outcomes associated with post-term pregnancy derives mainly from increasing fetal size and placental ageing. The key intervention currently available to manage the risks associated with prolonged pregnancy is to offer delivery. In the UK, this is routinely offered from 41 weeks onwards, but timing differs up to 42 weeks across global settings. Although offering induction of labour to manage post-term pregnancy is routine and appears to minimize risk, women should feel supported by healthcare professionals for women if they opt for expectant management or decline induction of labour. Recent evidence suggests that elective induction of labour beyond 39 weeks in otherwise low-risk pregnancies is not associated with increased maternal or fetal risk, and may help to avoid Caesarean section.
ISSN:1751-7214
1879-3622
DOI:10.1016/j.ogrm.2021.04.005