Conservative management of prolonged pregnancy using fetal heart rate monitoring only: a prospective study.

Eighty patients with prolonged pregnancy were managed conservatively using outpatient non-stress testing as the only form of fetal monitoring; there was no excess perinatal mortality or morbidity. The 'at risk' fetus appeared to be predominantly within the 'postmature' group who pass meconium. Non-stress testing using this rigid regimen was an excellent screening test to identify the 'at risk' fetus and in this study had a zero false-negative rate. Probably only one in 20 post-term infants require induction for fetal indications.