Objective: The purpose of the study was to determine delivery and neonatal outcomes beyond 40 weeks of gestation.
Materials and Methods: From January, 2005, through December 2005, 242 consecutive women presenting at 40 weeks' of gestation or more who were candidates for labor were reviewed in a retrospective manner. Patient ages, parity, gestational ages were recorded. Delivery outcomes and perinatal complications were main outcomes. Cesarean delivery rates were calculated for patients at 40 (n = 139), 41 (n = 83) and 42 (n=20) weeks and were compared with rates for patients who had spontaneous labor.
Results: Mode of delivery was similar in three groups (p = 0.86). Umbilical cord pH (p=0.39) and neonatal intensive care unit admission (p = 0.27) were similar in all groups.
Conclusion: In our study group, mode of delivery and neonatal outcome did not differ with increasing gestational age.
Key Words: Mode of delivery, neonatal outcomes, prolonged pregnancy.
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