Even with Elective Term Delivery, Gestational Age Matters

Preterm delivery (<37 weeks’ gestation) is associated with significant neonatal morbidity and mortality, but data are lacking on morbidity and mortality associated with elective term delivery (37–41 weeks’ gestation). Investigators used a large database representing 27 hospitals in 14 states to examine the association between infant morbidity and mortality and completed weeks of gestation.

Of 17,794 deliveries during 3 months in 2007, 84% were at term (>37 weeks). Among term deliveries, 44% were planned, and 71% of planned deliveries were elective (with no medical indication). Six percent of infants (296) born after elective induction of labor required admission to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), 70% within the first 24 hours. Among p…