The aim of this study was to evaluate the perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with pregnancies ending at 41 weeks.
We designed a retrospective cohort study. The perinatal outcomes of 230 pregnancies ending at 41 weeks鈥?gestation were compared with those of 234 pregnancies ending at between 37 and 40 weeks鈥?gestation at the Miguel Servet University Hospital in 2005.
The rates of oligohydramnios, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, macrosomia, 5-minute Apgar score < 7 and low umbilical artery pH were all increased at 41 weeks鈥?gestation compared with pregnancies ending at between 37 and 40 weeks鈥?gestation (P < .05).
We found that the rates of perinatal complications increased as pregnancy was prolonged to 41 weeks. Accurate investigation of these rates is important to determine the gestational age at which the risk of continuing the pregnancy outweighs the risk of labor induction.