Abstract
Objective
To provide evidence-based guidelines for the management of pregnancy at 41+0 to 42+0
weeks.
Outcomes
Reduction of perinatal mortality associated with Caesarean section at 41+0 to 42+0
weeks of pregnancy.
Evidence
The Medline database, the Cochrane Library, and the American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, were searched
for English language articles published between 1966 and March 2007, using the following
key words: prolonged pregnancy, post-term pregnancy, and postdates pregnancy. The
quality of evidence was evaluated and recommendations were made according to guidelines
developed by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
Recommendations
- 1.First trimester ultrasound should be offered, ideally between 11 and 14 weeks, to all women, as it is a more accurate assessment of gestational age than last menstrual period with fewer pregnancies prolonged past 41+0 weeks (I-A).
- 2.If there is a difference of greater than 5 days between gestational age dated using the last menstrual period and first trimester ultrasound, the estimated date of delivery should be adjusted as per the first trimester ultrasound (I-A).
- 3.If there is a difference of greater than 10 days between gestational age dated using the last menstrual period and second trimester ultrasound, the estimated date of delivery should be adjusted as per the second trimester ultrasound (I-A).
- 4.When there has been both a first and second trimester ultrasound, gestational age should be determined by the earliest ultrasound (I-A).
- 5.Women should be offered the option of membrane sweeping commencing at 38 to 41 weeks, following a discussion of risks and benefits (I-A).
- 6.Women should be offered induction at 41+0 to 42+0 weeks, as the present evidence reveals a decrease in perinatal mortality without increased risk of Caesarean section (I-A).
- 7.Antenatal testing used in the monitoring of the 41- to 42-week pregnancy should include at least a non-stress test and an assessment of amniotic fluid volume (I-A).
- 8.Each obstetrical department should establish guidelines dependent on local resources for scheduling of labour induction (I-A).
Key Words
Abbreviations:
CI (confidence interval), CRL (crown–rump length), EDC (estimated date of conception), LMP (last menstrual period), NST (non-stress test), OR (odds ratio), PMR (perinatal mortality rate), RCT (randomized controlled trial), RR (relative risk)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
No. 214, August 2017
Footnotes
This guideline was prepared by the Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee
∗
and reviewed by the Maternal Fetal Medicine Committee and reviewed and approved by the Executive and Council of The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.Clinical Practice Obstetrics Committee: Dean C. Leduc, MD (Chair), Ottawa, ON; Charlotte Ballermann, MD, Edmonton, AB; Anne Biringer, MD, Toronto, ON; Martina Delaney, MD, St. John's, NL; Loraine Dontigny, MD, Lasalle, QC; Thomas P. Gleason, MD, Edmonton, AB; Lily Shek-Yn Lee, RN, Vancouver, BC; Marie-Jocelyne Martel, MD, Saskatoon, SK; Valérin Morin, MD, Cap-Rouge, QC; Joshua Nathan Polsky, MD, Windsor, ON; Carol Rowntree, MD, Sundre, AB; Debra-Jo Shepherd, MD, Regina, SK; Kathi Wilson, RM, Ilderton, ON. Disclosure statements have been received from all members of the committee.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada
