Does practice make perfect? An age-matched study on grand multiparity in Flanders, Belgium.

AIM: To compare the perinatal outcome of grand multi-parous women (giving birth for the fifth to ninth time) and pauciparous (parity 2 to 4) women in the region of Flanders, Belgium. METHODS: Population-based, retrospective, age-matched study. RESULTS: 2832 grand multiparous women were compared with 2832 pauciparous women. In univariate analysis grand multiparous women showed more transverse lie, macrosomia, and fetal death and had less frequently epidural analgesia and episiotomy. Logistic regression demonstrated that grand multiparity was a significant factor contributing to fetal death and macrosomia. CONCLUSION: Grand multiparity is associated with fetal death and macrosomia in the region of Flanders, Belgium.