[Influence of fetal weight on outcome of prolonged pregnancy]

The aim of the study was to compare the influence of foetal weight on the outcome of a prolonged pregnancy. The study group consisted of all women delivered after a prolonged pregnancy at the Dept. of Obstetrics, Herning Central Hospital, during the period from 1.1.1993 to 31.3.1999, stratified by foetal weight. Five-hundred and eighty women were included. Women who gave birth to a child with birthweight less than 3.5 kg were more frequently given oxytocin infusions, and more children were transferred to the neonatal care unit. Heavy children weighing at least 4.5 kg were more frequently delivered by Cesarean section. In all groups very few children had low Apgar scores. When comparing the study population to a population of women giving birth after a completely normal pregnancy, significantly more grade 3-4 perineal ruptures and intrumental deliveries were found in the study group. In conclusion, foetal weight seems to be a poor predictor of the outcome after prolonged pregnancy. Prolonged pregnancy is associated with more instrumental deliveries and perineal ruptures.