User:Carolineokeefe/sandbox

Tentative Research
Post-maturity syndrome

I choose this article because I've never heard of it before and I find it very interesting. I have only heard about pre mature babies being born and not babies being born too late.

Article Proposal
I propose writing about Post-maturity syndrome and will find more information to add to the article.

Leader
This article talks about the 20% of human pregnancies that last longer then the average dates. This is called post maturity syndrome, essentially being pregnant past the expected due date. Post maturity syndrome can cause oligohydramnios, meconium aspiration, and macrosomia. It can also cause fetal problems such as dry peeling skin, overgrown nails, abundant scalp hair, visible creases on palms and soles, minimal fat deposition and skin color become green or yellow due to meconeum staining. If there are no fetal or maternal complications to this syndrome labor can be induced, otherwise an emergency caesarean section should be performed.As there are many definitions for prolonged pregnancy the incidence varies from 2 to 10%.

When incidence is taken as delivery beyond 42 weeks it is 10%, if it is taken according to the delivered baby’s weight and length it is 2%.

Post maturity symptoms include: baby's physical appearance, length of the pregnancy, or your baby's assessed gestational age.

The normal length of pregnancy is from 37 to 41 weeks. Post maturity refers to any baby born after 42 weeks gestation or 294 days past the first day of the mother's last menstrual period. Less than 6 percent of all babies are born at 42 weeks or later.

Special care of the postmature baby may include:


 * Checking for respiratory problems related to meconium (baby's first bowel movement) aspiration.
 * Blood tests for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Accurate pregnancy due dates can help identify babies at risk for post maturity. Ultrasound examinations early in pregnancy help establish more accurate dating by measurements taken of the fetus. Ultrasound is also important in evaluating the placenta for signs of aging.

The terms "postmaturity" and "post-term" are interchangeable.


 * Postmaturity is a word used to describe babies born after 42 weeks.
 * Researchers don't know why some pregnancies last longer than others.
 * Postmaturity is more likely to happen when a mother has had a post-term pregnancy before.
 * Your healthcare provider may decide to start your labor early.
 * An ultrasound test early in pregnancy can help your healthcare provider figure out your baby’s age by checking the baby’s size.

Who is at risk for postmaturity in the newborn?

Postmaturity is more likely to happen when a mother has had a post-term pregnancy before. After one post-term pregnancy, the risk of a second post-term birth increases by 2 to 3 times.

Other, minor risk factors include:


 * First pregnancy
 * Male baby
 * Older mother
 * Obese mother
 * Mother or father with personal history of postmaturity
 * White mother

Causes of Prolonged Pregnancy:

Wrong dates: if the women, having irregular periods with delayed ovulation, or she is not able to recall her last menstrual period correctly, or she used some oral contraceptive pills within 6 months of conception which has lead to irregular ovulation, or she conceived during lactational amenorrhea, in these cases if expected date of delivery is calculated according to her last menstrual period it will come wrong leading to consider as prolonged pregnancy.

By combining the estimated gestational age by the last menstrual period with clinical findings and serial ultrasonography findings the prolonged pregnancy can be diagnosed correctly.

The proportion of births at 42 weeks or longer was 6.4 percent when based on the last menstrual period alone and 1.9 percent when combined with ultrasound findings. By this it can be told that relaying only on the menstrual dates may not accurately  predict the postterm pregnancy. May be because of these variations in menstrual cycle  only small proportion of fetuses delivered postterm will have evidence of postmaturity.

Hereditary factors: hereditary seems to play a role in cases of prolonged pregnancy. According to some studies maternal, but not paternal genes influenced prolonged pregnancy. If  mother had a prolonged pregnancy the chance of daughter having prolonged pregnancy will increase to two- to threefold.

Standard of living: in people belonging to high socioeconomic class and with sedentary lifestyle the chances of prolonged pregnancy are more.

Prior post term pregnancy:  some mothers will have repeated postterm births may be  suggesting some  biologically determined factor behind it. After first postterm birth the incidence of a subsequent postterm birth increases from 10 to 27 percent  and after two prior, successive post term deliveries the incidence further increases to 39 percent.

Parity  and age: in case of elderly multiparae or elderly primigravidae the chances of prolongation of pregnancy are more.

Placental factors: X-linked placental sulfatase deficiency may lead to prolongation of pregnancy.

Fetal factors: anencephaly without polyhydromnios, adrenal hypoplasia may lead to prolongation of pregnancy. May be because fetal hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis cannot function to initiate labor. One concept is that these lead to decreased estrogen levels which will be usually high in normal pregnancy and  reduced cervical nitric oxide release may be a factor.

Post maturity refers to any baby born after 42 weeks gestation or 294 days past the first day of the mother's last menstrual period. Less than 6 percent of all babies are born at 42 weeks or later.

https://www.ajog.org/article/0002-9378(63)90304-1/pdf (add info)

https://srsree.blogspot.com/2012/03/postdated-or-prolonged-pregnancy.html (pictures)