Which of the following is a common indication for induction of labor at term?

• A. Post-term pregnancy (41–42 weeks)
• B. Preterm labor
• C. Breech presentation
• D. Elective induction requested by patient without medical indication

Answer: (A)

Post-term pregnancy is a common reason to induce labor at term. When pregnancy goes past the due date, usually around 41 weeks (some guidelines use 41 completed weeks, with increased caution by 42 weeks), the placenta begins to function less well. This aging can reduce oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, decrease amniotic fluid, and raise the risk of meconium in the amniotic fluid and, in rare cases, stillbirth. Inducing labor around this time helps mitigate those risks and often leads to a safer, more controlled delivery.

Preterm labor isn’t an indication for induction at term; it signals the opposite—delivery before term and typically involves tocolysis and careful management to delay birth if possible. Breech presentation isn’t automatically an induction indication either; many breech pregnancies are managed with planned vaginal delivery or cesarean based on overall risk and placental/fetal factors. Elective induction without medical indication is not considered a common reason to induce at term because it can increase cesarean rates and doesn’t improve outcomes in average-risk pregnancies.