Delay in delivery: influence of gestational age and the duration of delay on perinatal outcome.

The potential benefits to be gained in neonatal survival and freedom from serious morbidity by delaying delivery at various gestational ages was explored by examining the results of studies of neonatal mortality and subsequent morbidity published from 1978 and 1984. The major benefits were found to occur between 24 and 27 weeks' gestational age. In general, little benefit was found in delaying delivery after 34 weeks' gestational age.