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A postmature birth (also called post-term birth) occurs when a human pregnancy lasts longer than three weeks past the expected delivery date.
[edit] Presentation
In such a birth the placenta can begin to fail, causing declining delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. This can result in the death of the fetus if delivery is not induced. Postmature newborns are typically thin and underweight, with slender limbs, dry wrinkled skin and longer hair and nails.[1]
[edit] Prognosis
The first few days after delivery are the most critical, and infants living beyond that period have a high survival rate. A postmature child will have slightly less colored to gray eyes, as compared to a healthy newborn.
[edit] Eponym
It is also known as "Ballantyne-Runge syndrome".[2][3][4]
[edit] References
- ^ Clifford SH. Postmaturity with placental dysfunction. Clinical syndromes and pathologic findings. J Pediatr 1954;44:1-13
- ^ synd/1288 at Who Named It
- ^ J. W. Ballantyne. The problem of the postmature infant. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire, London, 1902, 2: 512-554.
- ^ H. Runge. Über einige besondere Merkmale der übertragenen Frucht. Zentralblatt für Gynäkologie, Leipzig, 1942, 66: 1202-1206.
