Obstetric and neonatal outcome in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage: a cohort study

Obstetric and neonatal outcomes of women who had a history of recurrent miscarriage were compared with a control population from 1 January 1992;to 30 June 1998, Amongst a total of 162 pregnancies which progressed beyond 24 weeks gestation in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage, there were four perinatal deaths and 16 babies were admitted to the special care baby unit. The rates of preterm delivery (13%), small-for-gestational-age (13%), perinatal loss (2.5%) and Caesarean section (36%) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those of the control group (3.9, 2,1, 1 and 16.7% respectively), The ratio of male to female babies was equal, There was no significant difference in the incidence of hypertension or diabetes between the two groups, Patients with recurrent miscarriage represent a population at high risk of obstetric problems and close surveillance in the antenatal period is therefore required.