Association of Widespread Adoption of the 39-Week Rule With Overall Mortality Due to Stillbirth and Infant Death.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

To improve neonatal morbidity, efforts have been made to reduce elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks' gestation, also known as the 39-week rule. Prolonging pregnancies also prolongs exposure to the risk of stillbirth. The true association of a 39-week rule with mortality is unknown and studies to date have shown conflicting results.

Objective

To determine if widespread adoption of a 39-week rule, limiting elective deliveries prior to 39 weeks' gestation, is associated with an increase or decrease in overall mortality when considering both stillbirths and infant deaths.

Design, setting, and participants

This historical cohort study used birth certificate and infant death certificate data in the United States to compare years before and after the adoption of

SUBMITTER: Pilliod RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6820038 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature