Aims: To compare the outcomes of term gestations with oligohydramnios in the absence of other underlying disorders and term gestations with normal amniotic fluid.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of obstetric outcomes in 27,708 term pregnancies. We compared three groups: labor induced because of oligohydramnios, spontaneous onset of labor with normal amniotic fluid, and labor induced because of late term pregnancy with normal amniotic fluid. We excluded pregnancies with maternal or fetal diseases or disorders potentially related with amniotic fluid alterations. The main outcome measures were mode of delivery, neonatal birth weight, umbilical artery blood pH, Apgar scores and neonatal discharge status.
Results: Compared to spontaneous labor, induction of labor because of oligohydramnios was associated with a higher risk of cesarean delivery and small size of the fetus for gestational age (SGA). Compared to induction because of late term pregnancy there were no significant differences in neonatal, although neonates had a higher risk of being SGA.
Conclusion: The only perinatal outcome for which the risk was higher in term pregnancies with isolated oligohydramnios was SGA. The systematic induction of labor in these pregnancies should be questioned.