ASSESING THE OUTCOMES OF PROLONGED PREGNANCY

Lengthened pregnancy after the 41st week will create problems for mother, fetus and newborn. Assessing the outcomes of prolonged pregnancy are research priorities. To determine the maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes of prolonged pregnancy. Design: This was a case -control study in which the data were collected through record sheets. Sample: There were 1800 samples in this research of which 600 women (prolonged pregnancy) made the case group and were selected through continuous sampling. Control group included 1200 women (normal pregnancy) which were chosen by simple random sampling. The findings indicated there was significant relationship between maternal outcomes (i.e. such as induction of labour, responding to induction in the 1st and 2nd days, spontaneous and cesarean child birth, postpartum hemorrhage, and duration of second stage of delivery) and prolonged pregnancy (P<0.05). There were also significant relationship between prolonged pregnancy and fetal outcomes such as fetal distress, meconium passage, decreased fetal movements in admission time, and decreased volume of amniotic fluid (P<0/05). Regarding to neonatal outcomes, there was a significant relationship between prolonged pregnancy and admission in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and infant weight at birth (P< 0.05). Based on the findings, increased labour induction, responding to induction in the second day, preference of child birth through cesarean, increased postpartum hemorrhage, prolonged second stage of delivery, fetal distress, meconium passage, decreased fetal movements in admission time, decreased volume of amniotic fluid, and increased infant birth weight were known adverse outcomes of prolonged pregnancy. Therefore, the termination of prolonged pregnancy after 41st is recommended. This termination is recommended to be done at areas equipped with special cares and facilities (i.e. child birth, after child birth, infant resuscitation, and NICU facilities).