PIP: It has been traditionally accepted that maternal and fetal complications are at their lowest levels 37-42 weeks into gestation. 20% of pregnancies completed after 42 weeks gestation are thought to be affected by the postmaturity syndrome of uteroplacental insufficiency resulting in oligohydramnios, meconium passage, loss of fetal subcutaneous tissue, fetal asphyxia, and fetal death. Some workers, however, have also found that pregnancies completed between 40 and 42 weeks carry significant risk. The authors explored this question in a case-control study of 464 women seen at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in Maharashtra, India. The cases of postdatism occurred in the absence of any other medical or obstetric problem. The operative delivery rate increased significantly among these patients compared to deliveries between 39 and 40 weeks. There was neither significant asphyxia nor perinatal loss in term completed normal patients. Asphyxia and perinatal mortality did, however, occur with postdatism. The authors note the likely role of oligohydramnios combined with placental dysfunction.