Maternal Complications and Foetal Outcomes in Elderly Primigravida

Background: Elderly primigravida is a common problem in present days, due to a rise in educational levels, efficient birth control measures and a larger number of women in the workforce.Low birth weight, antepartum and intrapartum foetal loss, neonatal mortality, and several pregnancy and labour issues requiring surgical delivery are all associated with advanced maternal age.Methods: An observational study was undertaken in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, S.C.B Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack from March 2021 to February 2022 on elderly primigravida.All the sociodemographic details were obtained from the study subjects.The intranatal, antenatal, postnatal and neonatal parameters were observed.Results: A total of 100 cases were selected for the study.The majority were literate and from urban areas, belonging to 31-35 years age group and middle socioeconomic status.Major complications noticed were anemia, fibroid, and hypothyroidism with the occurrence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, felt growth restriction, and antepartum hemorrhage.Major labor complications were fetal distress, premature rupture of membrane, and cephalopelvic disproportion.The majority of patients delivered low birth weight babies with low APGAR scores (<7 at 5 min) and increased incidence of neonatal morbidities.Early neonatal death and stillbirth were high showing an increased perinatal mortality. Conclusion:This study concluded that an elderly primigravida is a high-risk group that encounters complications during pregnancy and labor.The newborns are also low birth weight with a high risk of neonatal morbidities.Pre-conceptional counselling, supervision during antenatal and intrapartum periods and scheduled obstetric intervention are necessary for optimum outcomes.