title: Morbidities in Neonates Delivered Electively at Early Term.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the incidence of elective cesarean deliveries at term and to correlate their neonatal outcomes at different gestational ages (37(0/7)-40(6/7)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Outcomes including the rate of NICU admissions, usage of ventilator/CPAP, and other morbidities were analysed and compared with the gestational age during the study period from January 2012 to April 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidences of elective deliveries at 37, 38, 39, and 40 weeks of gestation were 10.6, 29.7, 28, and 31.5 %, respectively. NICU admissions-RR 3.94 (95 % CI 1.92-8.09), respiratory distress-RR 5.255 (95 % CI 1.9-14.4), ventilatory usage, and hospitalization stay (P value < 0.05) were higher in neonates born at 37(0/7-6/7) versus 39(0/7-6/7) weeks (least morbidity group).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite recommendations, more than one-third of term babies are delivered electively at <39 weeks. The fivefold augmented respiratory morbidity and fourfold increased NICU admissions in early term neonates, and the least morbidity in neonates delivered at 39 weeks emphasize the importance of restricting the non-emergent/elective deliveries to 39 weeks of gestation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Razak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India ; Manipal Group of Hospitals, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Karthik N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Nagesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Gayathri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karthik
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Mrinal S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Pankaj Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mohanty
keywords: Early term; Elective deliveries; LSCS; Morbidities; Neonate