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Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2053-8018
Original Article

Correlation of Meconium-Stained Amniotic Fluid and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes between 37 to 39 and 40 to 42 Weeks of Gestational Age

Anat Lavie 
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
,
Shira Fisch
2   The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
,
Lee Reicher
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
3   Department of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
4   Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
,
Eyal Zohav
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
,
Sharon Maslovitz
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lis Maternity Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Abstract

Objective We aimed at assessing the association between meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in early-term versus late-term pregnancies.

Study Design Early-term pregnancies (37–39 weeks of gestation) presented with MSAF were compared with late-term (40–42 weeks of gestation) pregnancies with MSAF. The groups were compared with respect to background characteristics, maternal outcomes, and neonatal outcomes. The composite neonatal outcome was the primary outcome of the study, and secondary outcomes included maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Results The early-term group comprised 239 women, compared with 362 women in the late-term group. The primary outcome did not differ between groups. We found a higher prevalence of gestational diabetes (8.37 vs. 3%, p < 0.05), a shorter second stage of labor (45.61 ± 54.67 vs. 65.82 ± 62.99 minutes, p < 0.05), and a longer hospital stay (2.84 ± 2.21 vs. 2.53 ± 1.26 days, p < 0.05) in the early-term group. Other maternal and neonatal characteristics and outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusion In term pregnancies complicated by MSAF, adverse neonatal and maternal delivery outcomes are equivalent, regardless of gestational age, and therefore, any term pregnancy complicated by MSAF should be considered high risk and managed appropriately.

Key Points

  • In term pregnancies complicated by MSAF, adverse neonatal and maternal delivery outcomes are equivalent, regardless of gestational age.

  • Any term pregnancy complicated by MSAF should be considered high risk and managed appropriately.

  • Deliveries presented with MSAF are typically considered to be high risk and require close fetal surveillance by a certified team with resuscitation skills.

  • Our study may help to reduce the need for a close fetal surveillance and delivery interventions if MSAF is not identified as a risk factor for adverse outcomes in late-term pregnancies.

Keywords

meconium stain amniotic fluid - early term - late term - adverse pregnancy outcomes


Publication History

Received: 06 December 2022

Accepted: 06 March 2023

Accepted Manuscript online:
14 March 2023

Article published online:
18 April 2023

© 2023. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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