ABSTRACT
Interventions in a woman with a prolonged pregnancy include induction of labour and, less frequently, elective caesarean section in an attempt to reduce these potential complications. Prolonged pregnancy may be associated with the following: uteroplacental insufficiency; macrosomia; and poor neonatal outcome. The causes of prolonged pregnancy include incorrect dates, fetoplacental factors, and true prolonged pregnancy. Pregnancy is dated from the first day of the last regular menstrual period using Naegle’s rule of adding seven to the date and subtracting three from the month number. This results in an average pregnancy of 280 days. In pregnancy, serum oestriol levels are low, and there is a tendency towards prolonged labour. The significance of this condition is that neonates can present with salt wasting and hyperpigmentation. Despite the practice, there is a considerable amount of controversy surrounding the routine induction of labour for prolonged pregnancy.
