title: Management of pregnancy beyond 40 weeks' gestation.
abstract: A post-term or prolonged pregnancy is one that reaches 42 weeks' gestation; approximately 5 to 10 percent of pregnancies are post-term. Studies have shown a reduction in the number of pregnancies considered post-term when early ultrasound dating is performed. Maternal and fetal risks increase with gestational age, but the management of otherwise low-risk prolonged pregnancies is controversial. Antenatal surveillance with fetal kick counts, nonstress testing, amniotic fluid index measurement, and biophysical profiles is used, although no data show that monitoring improves outcomes. Studies show a reduction in the rate of cesarean deliveries and possibly in neonatal mortality with a policy of routine labor induction at 41 weeks' gestation.
authors.affiliation: CHRISTUS St. Joseph Hospital Family Practice Residency, Houston, Texas 77002, USA. donald.briscoe@christushealth.org
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Briscoe
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mencer
authors.forename: Neeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: Daniel B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Kalb
mesh_terms: D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged; D018570:Risk Assessment