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Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Late preterm and early term: when to induce a growth restricted fetus? A population-based study
Alex Rabinovich1, Tehila Tsemach2, Lena Novack2
1a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Soroka University Medical Center, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev , Beer Sheva , Israel.
Purpose:
(1) Compare fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with induction of labor (IOL) versus expectant management (EM) in women with isolated fetal growth restriction (FGR) between 340/7 and 386/7 weeks; (2) Determine optimal gestational age for delivery of such fetuses.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective population based cohort study of 2232 parturients with isolated FGR, including two groups: (1) IOL (n = 1428); 2) EM (n = 804).
Results:
IOL group had a lower stillbirth and neonatal death rates (p = .042, p < .001), higher 1 and 5 min Apgar scores and a higher vaginal delivery rate compared to the EM group. In the late preterm period, EM was associated with increased rate of low 1 and 5 min Apgar scores, nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing (NRFHR), stillbirth and neonatal death rate (p = .001, p = .039). In the early term cohort, EM was associated with a higher rate of NRFHR and low 1 min Apgar scores (p = .003, p = .002). IOL at 37 weeks protected from stillbirth but not from adverse composite neonatal outcomes.
Conclusions:
IOL of FGR fetuses at 37 weeks had a protective effect against stillbirth. In addition, at late preterm, it is associated with lower rates of stillbirth, neonatal death, and NRFHR.
