Assessment of the post-term pregnancy.

A post-term pregnancy is one that lasts beyond 42 weeks of confirmed gestational age. The goal of management in the post-term pregnancy is to avoid stillbirth, meconium aspiration and neonatal death. Ultrasonography obtained at term does not accurately predict gestational age. In pregnancies that progress beyond 41 weeks of confirmed gestational age, fetal well-being has been assessed by ultrasound evaluation of amniotic fluid volume, fetal breathing, fetal tone and fetal movement, in addition to nonstress testing. A definitive assessment plan for the post-term pregnancy should reduce the risk of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity.

Duke Scholars

Author Jeffrey Adam Kuller Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine