Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the incidence and type of fetal trauma in term pregnancy in relation to method of delivery, maternal age, parity, and birthweight.
Study design: From the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database, fetal trauma was evaluated in all term (37 weeks or longer) singleton fetuses without major anomaly in vertex presentation over a 14-year period (1988-2001).
Results: The overall risk of fetal trauma was low (2.0%); that of major fetal trauma was 0.16%. Major and minor fetal trauma was significantly increased with labor, compared with no labor (adjusted relative risks [RRs], 9.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34-68.47, and RR, 11.25; 95% CI, 5.05-25.09, respectively). Cesarean delivery was protective for major and minor fetal trauma, compared with vaginal delivery (adjusted RRs, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.12-0.40, and RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.39-0.54, respectively).
Conclusion: The risk of significant fetal trauma in term pregnancy is very low and most likely to be associated with labor and with assisted vaginal delivery.