Genes and post-Term birth: Late for delivery

Abstract

Background: Recent evidence suggests that prolonged pregnancies beyond 42 weeks of gestation (post-Term births) are associated with long-Term adverse health outcomes in the offspring. Discussion: There is evidence that post-Term birth has not only environmental causes, but also significant heritability, suggesting genetic and/or epigenetic influences interact with environmental cues to affect gestational length. Summary: As prolonged gestation is associated with adverse short-and long-Term outcomes in the offspring, further research into the underlying genetic and epigenetic causes of post-Term birth could be of importance for improving obstetric management.