Abstract
As a rule, we have adopted a policy of active artificial induction of labor for pregnancies carried over two weeks or more beyond the expected date of confinement, In the present communication, we have attempted to evaluate validity of this policy from statistical and clinical points of view.
The incidence of prolonged pregnancies during the past three years from 1971 through 1973 was 1.67% in terms of actual incidence and 0.89% in terms of corrected incidence out of 3, 121 deliveries in our clinic, Obstetrical complications such as excessive bleeding, cesarian section, prolonged delivery and fetal asphyxia were recognized to be significantly higher in prolonged pregnancies than in control cases, Obviously primiparous women with prolonged pregnancies have proven to have much more chance of association with such complications than multiparous women with prolonged pregnancies, probably due to the factor related to the soft parturient canal. It was concluded that special considerations on the soft canal together with artificial induction of labor have to be taken in account for the management of prolonged pregnancies of primiparous women to improve the prognosis of labor and newborn
