Association of Active Antenatal Management in the Periviable Period and Parental Morbidity in the United States

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe the incidence of parental morbidity with periviable delivery and its relationship to antenatal interventions, including antenatal corticosteroids, antibiotics, and cesarean delivery. Study Design: weeks) from 2016 to 2021. Subjects were included if they delivered a nonanomalous live singleton gestation in a hospital. To minimize inaccurate dating, subjects were excluded for birthweight > 97% for gestational age. The composite morbidity outcome was defined as parental blood transfusion, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or unplanned hysterectomy. We assessed this outcome's relationship to parental demographic and clinical characteristics, including the receipt of selected antenatal interventions, including antenatal corticosteroids, antibiotics, and cesarean delivery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between antenatal intervention and parental morbidity. Results: < 0.001). Parents who received antenatal steroids or antibiotics and those undergoing cesarean delivery had higher rates of morbidity compared to their counterparts who did not receive these interventions. Conclusion: Birthing parents who received steroids or antibiotics prior to periviable delivery and those undergoing cesarean delivery were more likely to experience parental morbidity of transfusion, hysterectomy, or ICU admission. The relationship of these interventions, intended to improve neonatal outcomes or prolong pregnancy, to parental morbidity should be incorporated into the nuanced counseling required for parents at risk of periviable deliveries. Additional research is warranted to understand the institutional, provider, and patient factors underlying these findings. Conclusion: KEY POINTS: . Conclusion: · Neonatal outcomes after periviable birth are linked to gestational age and receipt of antenatal interventions.. · Parents who received active antenatal interventions were more likely to experience parental morbidity.. · The potential for morbidity following antenatal intervention in the periviable period should be included in the nuanced counseling required in these cases..