Comparative study of post term and term pregnancy in Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital (NMCTH)

Post term pregnancy (PTP) is one of the commonest obstetric conditions. Pregnancy is called term when it lies between 37 completed weeks to 42 completed weeks (259 to 294 days) from the last menstrual period. If the pregnancy exceeds this period (above 42 completed weeks) it is classified as post term pregnancy. The over all incidence of PTP is 10.0% of all pregnancies. The incidence of PTP varies depending on whether the calculation is based on the history and clinical examination alone, or whether early pregnancy ultrasound examination is used to estimate gestational age. Because of increased risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, it is taken as high risk pregnancy. The published data on risk of unexplained intrauterine death associated with PTP vary. It is mostly due to decrease in amniotic fluid volume; meconium passed in utero, placental changes like calcification, abruption placentae and big baby. In present study the prevalence of PTP is 4.6% which is much less than those in different studies. Maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy and related complications were compared with normal term pregnancy. This comparative study revealed increased risk to mother and fetus as pregnancy advances beyond term.