Postmaturity

Charles H Rodeck, University College London, London, UK
Anna E Holmes, University College London, London, UK

Published online: April 2001

DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0002142

Postmaturity syndrome occurs most commonly in prolonged pregnancy and results from placental insufficiency. Despite advances in obstetric care it remains a difficult problem to predict and prevent.

Keywords: postterm; meconium; placental insufficiency; induction; ultrasound

 References
    Arias F (1987) Predictability of complications associated with prolongation of pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology 70: 101–106.
    Boyd ME, Usher RH, McLean FH et al. (1988) Obstetric consequences of postmaturity. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 158: 334–338.
    Cardozo L (1993) Is routine induction of labour at term ever justified? British Medical Journal 306: 840–841.
    Clifford SH (1954) Postmaturity with placental dysfunction. Journal of Pediatrics 44: 1–13.
    Crowley P, O’Herlihy C and Boylan P (1984) The value of ultrasound measurements of amniotic fluid volume in the management of prolonged pregnancies. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 91: 444–448.
    Divon MY, Marks AD and Henderson CE (1995) Longitudinal measurement of amniotic fluid index in post-term pregnancies and its association with fetal outcome. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 172: 142–146.
    Grannum P, Berkowitz R and Hobbins J (1979) The ultrasonic changes in the maturing placenta and their relation to fetal pulmonic maturity. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 133: 915–922.
    Hannah ME, Hannah WJ, Hellmann J et al. (1992) Induction of labour as compared with serial antenatal monitoring in post-term pregnancy. New England Journal of Medicine 326: 1587–1592.
    Monaghan J, O’Herlihy C and Boylan P (1987) Ultrasound placental grading and amniotic fluid quantation in prolonged pregnancy. Obstetrics and Gynecology 70: 349–351.
    Vorherr H (1975) Placental insufficiency in relation to post-term pregnancy and fetal postmaturity. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 123: 67–103.
    Yudkin PL, Redman CWG and Wood L (1987) Risk of unexplained stillbirth at different gestational ages. Lancet i: 1192–1194.
 Further Reading
    book Arulkumaran S (1995) "Prolonged pregnancy". In: James DK, Steer PJ, Weiner CP and Gonik B (eds) High Risk Pregnancy, Management Options, pp. 217–229. London: WB Saunders.
    book Bakketeig L and Bergsjo P (1989) "Post-term pregnancy: Magnitude of the problem". In: Chalmers I, Enkin M and Keirse MJNC (eds) Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 1, pp. 765–775. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    book Crowley P (1989) "Post-term pregnancy": In: Chalmers I, Enkin M and Keirse MJNC (eds) Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 1, pp. 776–791. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    book Pearson JF (1982) "Monitoring high risk pregnancy". In: Bonnar J (ed.) Recent Advances in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, vol. 14, pp. 3–34. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

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Article Title: Postmaturity
 
How to Cite close
Rodeck, Charles H, and Holmes, Anna E(Apr 2001) Postmaturity. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1038/npg.els.0002142]