The postdate pregnancy. When to wait, when to induce labor.

The postdate pregnancy is a common and difficult problem for the physician, who must decide between risking premature delivery by inducing labor and waiting so long that post-maturity complications may be present. A normal contraction stress test with a postdate pregnancy is reassuring, and artificial labor promoted by an inducible cervix or an abnormal contraction stress test should attain the best result for both mother and baby.