New indications for antepartum testing: making the case for antepartum surveillance or timed delivery for women of advanced maternal age

Semin Perinatol. 2008 Aug;32(4):312-7. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2008.04.016.

Abstract

Maternal age is an independent risk factor for stillbirth; a moderate number of these occur in normally formed babies near term. For a woman 40 years of age or older giving birth, her risk of having a chromosomal anomaly is 1/66. What is not appreciated is that even without medical risk factors, her risk of having a stillbirth after 37 weeks of gestation is 1/116. This article reviews the risks and benefits of the strategy of antepartum testing and timed delivery and discusses the limitations of the available data in this field.

MeSH terms

  • Delivery, Obstetric
  • Female
  • Fetal Death / etiology
  • Fetal Death / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Maternal Age*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Diagnosis*
  • Risk Factors
  • Stillbirth*