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Pregnancy outcomes in primigravid women aged 35 years and over in South Australia, 1986‐1988
Author(s) -
Jonas Oswald,
Chan Annabelle,
Roder David,
Macharper Tony
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1991.tb121082.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , caesarean section , perinatal mortality , low birth weight , birth weight , vaginal delivery , caesarean delivery , singleton , pediatrics , fetus , genetics , biology
The South Australian perinatal data collection for 1986‐1988 was used to compare the characteristics and outcomes of singleton pregnancies in 515 primigravid women aged 35 years and over with those in 4175 younger primigravid women aged 20‐29 years. Notable differences observed were a higher prevalence of medical, obstetric and labour complications and assisted deliveries in the older group. Breech presentations were almost twice as common in the older women, as were caesarean sections. Only 27% achieved a spontaneous vaginal delivery. The mean duration of hospital stay for the older women was longer for both vaginal and caesarean deliveries. However, although their babies were more likely to be premature or of low birth weight, the perinatal mortality rate was not significantly increased and the great majority of older primigravid women managed by modern obstetric methods can expect a good pregnancy outcome.