pediatrics
Postterm Infants
Pathophysiology of Postterm Infants
In most cases, fetal growth continues until delivery. However, in some cases, the placenta involutes as pregnancy progresses and multiple infarcts and villous degeneration develop, causing placental insufficiency. In these cases, the fetus receives inadequate nutrients and oxygen from the mother, resulting in a thin (due to soft-tissue wasting), undernourished infant with depleted glycogen stores and decreased amniotic fluid volume. Such infants are dysmature and, depending on when placental insufficiency develops and the severity of the condition, they may be Small-for-Gestational-Age (SGA) Infant . Although placental insufficiency with dysmaturity can occur at any gestational age, it is most common in pregnancies that progress beyond 41 to 42 weeks. Postterm infants have higher morbidity and mortality than term infants due in large part to Perinatal asphyxia Meconium aspiration syndrome Neonatal hypoglycemia Perinatal asphyxiamay result from placental insufficiency as well as cord compression secondary to oligohydramnios. Meconium Aspiration Syndrome None Neonatal Hypoglycemia None 