Delivery at term: when, how and why

Walker, Kate F.; Thornton, Jim

Abstract

The optimal timing of delivery for the baby is 39 weeks, avoiding the morbidity associated with early term birth and reducing the risk of antepartum stillbirth.

There is compelling evidence that among high-risk pregnancies and in settings where cesarean rates are high (>20%), induction of labor at 37 to 40 weeks does not, as previously thought, result in a further increased risk of cesarean delivery.

The only advantage to planned cesarean delivery over induction of labor is the avoidance of the morbidity associated with emergency cesarean delivery; controversy exists on the other reported benefits.

There is a growing number of well-conducted randomized controlled trials that provide some support for induction of labor shortly before term for a variety of indications (hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, suspected growth restriction, macrosomia, and advanced maternal age).

Citation

Walker, K. F., & Thornton, J. (2018). Delivery at term: when, how and why. Clinics in Perinatology, 45(2), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clp.2018.01.004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 19, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Feb 19, 2018
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 5, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 20, 2019
• Journal: Clinics in Perinatology
• Print ISSN: 0095-5108
• Electronic ISSN: 1557-9840
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 45
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clp.2018.01.004
• Keywords: Term; Induction of labor; Cesarean delivery; Antepartum stillbirth
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/961523
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0095510818300046?via%3Dihub