Definition of “non-medically indicated early delivery"
This measure refers to non-medically indicated early deliveries performed by elective cesarean section or induction of labor between 37 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks and 6 days. A non-medically indicated early delivery is a planned delivery that takes place before the onset of labor that has no identified medical reason for a delivery before 39 weeks gestation. The numerator includes all non-medically indicated deliveries between 37 weeks and 0 days and 38 weeks and 6 days, the denominator is all deliveries after 37 weeks. Infants delivered electively between 37 weeks and 38 weeks 6 days without a medical reason are at increased risk of poor obstetric outcomes. This measure is a population-level estimate of early elective deliveries and the numbers are not as accurate as those calculated using medical record data. This measure is to serve only as an indicator rather than a validated measurement of early elective deliveries. Discrepancies between these reported numbers and numbers reported using other sources such as medical records or hospital discharge data are possible.