ABSTRACT
To evaluate the prevalence, rate and indications for cesarean deliveries in prolonged and post-term pregnancies Prospective descriptive cross-sectional study Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Amir, Semnan, Iran. One hundred and sixty-four cases of prolonged pregnancy were encountered during the study period from September 2009 to September 2010. Data regarding total deliveries, number of prolonged pregnancies and cesarean delivery were gathered and the prevalence of prolonged pregnancy, the cesarean delivery rate and the indications for cesarean deliveries evaluated. Prevalence of prolonged pregnancies and cesarean delivery rates Delivery and cesarean section Total deliveries during this period were 1157. Forty-one and 13 deliveries were beyond 41 weeks [prolonged pregnancy] and 42 weeks [post term pregnancy] respectively. The prevalence of prolonged pregnancy and post term pregnancy was 3.5 and 1.12% respectively. The cesarean delivery rate for prolonged and post-term pregnancy were 31.7 and 38.46% respectively. The most common indications for cesarean deliveries were failure to progress and meconium staining of amniotic fluid. The prevalence of prolonged and post-term pregnancy was low and the incidence of cesarean section was high in these cases. The most common indications for cesarean section were dystocia [failure to progress] and meconium staining of amniotic fluid