Risk of stillbirth in SGA pregnancies rises after term
Major finding: In gestations complicated by an SGA fetus, the risk of stillbirth at 38, 39, and 40 or more weeks was 1.5-, 2.8-, and 6.9-fold higher, respectively, than at 37 weeks.
Data source: A retrospective cohort study of 3,333 women with singleton pregnancies complicated by SGA.
Disclosures: Dr. Trudell disclosed no conflicts of interest related to the research.
AT THE PREGNANCY MEETING 2013
The number of deliveries needed to prevent a single stillbirth was 769, 204, and 60 at 38, 39, and 40 or more weeks, respectively.
"Although some would consider the use of birth weight as a shortcoming, we would offer it as a strength. The use of birth weight allows us to examine the direct relationship between small fetuses and stillbirth, whereas the estimated fetal weight examines the accuracy of ultrasound to predict fetal weight and is a different question altogether," Dr. Trudell maintained.
"It is only after we have tested the direct association between SGA and stillbirth, as we have in this study, that improvement in our technical ability to predict SGA by ultrasound becomes relevant."
Dr. Trudell disclosed no conflicts of interest related to the research.
