Risk of stillbirth or newborn death before 28 days was almost halved in 'overdue' pregnancies lasting beyond 41 weeks, according to international researchers, who found that shifting from induction at 42 weeks to more active management and offering induction at 41 weeks reduced the rates of stillbirth or death before 28 days. The team conducted a nationwide register-based cohort study, looking at over 150,000 deliveries by women with a single overdue pregnancy lasting 41 or more weeks. They found that active management of overdue pregnancies and induction at 41 weeks was associated with a decrease in perinatal deaths of infants and a reduction in severe disease or birth trauma. The team say that women who have pregnancies which are advancing towards 41 gestational weeks should be given balanced information on the benefits and risks of induction of labour at 41 weeks compared to expectant management until 42 weeks, and be offered induction of labour at 41 weeks or active surveillance of pregnancies from 41 weeks in order to decrease peri/neonatal deaths.
Peer-reviewed; Observational study; People
Risk of stillbirth and newborn death before 28 days was almost halved in “overdue” pregnancies lasting beyond 41 weeks, in nationwide Swedish study offering active management and induction of labor
