Critical Care Obstetrics and Gynecology

Prolonged pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy that has progressed beyond 42 weeks gestation, although the terms prolonged pregnancy and post term pregnancy are interchanged. Postmaturity symptoms vary. The most common are dry skin, overgrown nails, creases on the baby′s palms and soles of their feet, minimal fat, a lot of hair on their head, and either a brown, green, or yellow discoloration of their skin. Doctors diagnose post-mature birth based on the baby′s physical appearance and the length of the mother′s pregnancy. In most cases, the cause of postterm pregnancy is unknown. There are some factors that place a woman at increased risk. The incidence is higher in first pregnancies and in women who have had a previous postterm pregnancy. Genetic factors may also play a role. One study showed an increased risk of postterm pregnancy in women who were, themselves, born postterm.

However, variations in when a woman ovulates can lead to errors in calculating the true duration of pregnancy and lead to over- and underestimations of when the baby is due. An ultrasound examination performed in the first half of pregnancy is the most reliable method of calculating the date the baby is due, especially in women with long or irregular menstrual cycles.

Related Journals of Prolonged Pregnancy

Critical Care Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pregnancy and Child Health, Current Trends in Gynecologic Oncology , Gynecology & Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Obstetrics Case report, Journal of Pregnancy, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Journal of Human Lactation, Pregnancy Hypertension, The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Ovarian Research