Conservative versus active management of prolonged pregnancy

Prolonged pregnancy is pregnancy that lasts more than 41 weeks”287 days” from the first day of the last menstrual period.Prolongation of pregnancy is a common problem that continues tobe responsible for increased perinatal morbidity and mortality alsoassociated with increased risk of adverse maternal outcome.There is a continuing controversy regarding the management of thepregnant patient who has not delivered by her ”due date”. Induction of theundelivered post-term patient, rather than allowing spontaneous labor.The aim of this work was to compare between the two methods ofmanagement of prolonged pregnancy (induction of labor at 41 weeks andexpectant management with fetal surveillance) to reach to the bestmethod that reduces the risks of adverse outcomes, and to define a cut-offgestational age beyond which waiting is not advisable.Fifty primigravidas with well established gestational age (41 weeks-287 days) with live singleton fetus in cephalic presentation were enrolledfor and completed the study. Of these, 25 (50%) to the expectantmanagement group and 25 (50%) were assigned to the induction group.