MANAGEMENT OF THE UNCOMPLICATED POSTDATE PREGNANCY

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 26  (2) , 93-95
Abstract
The management of a postdate (> 42 wk) pregnancy with no apparent complication is often unclear. This study compares the intrapartum courses and perinatal outcomes between 101 postdate pregnancies and 322 term pregnancies. The mean maternal age, race, parity and type of care service were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Signs of fetal compromise were also not different, but a large fetus was more common (P < 0.01) in the postdate pregnancies (16 cases). The need for cesarean section (13 cases) or midforceps manipulation (7 cases) was increased 4-fold in the postdate over the term pregnancies (P < 0.05). Meconium during labor was not more common in the postdate pregnancies, but the 1 postdate perinatal death occurred in the neonatal period from severe meconium aspiration complications. A postdate pregnancy with no apparent complications may safely be observed closely.

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