Dr. Gerard Burke:

Mental illness is commonplace, as are other factors such as drug abuse. If we have a patient who is very difficult to manage due to psychiatric illness or drug addiction, and perhaps has some suicidal ideation, we will try very hard to get her to term - that is, 37 weeks - in order that the baby does not suffer from the effects of immaturity. Some patients develop medical problems which may necessitate early delivery. We would try to care for the patient very carefully until she got to 37 weeks, and thereafter.