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Preterm Labor
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionPreterm labor is labor that starts before 37 weeks. It can lead to early delivery. Babies born before 37 weeks are premature. CausesThe cause is not always known. Sometimes it is caused by preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). This is when the amniotic sac breaks before 37 weeks and labor has not started within 1 hour.
Risk FactorsThis problem is more common in women who:
Some things that may raise the risk are:
SymptomsProblems may be:
DiagnosisYou will be asked about your symptoms and health history. An exam will be done. This is often enough to make the diagnosis. TreatmentTreatment will depend on your baby's growth, especially the lungs. Labor may be allowed to go on in a baby that is more developed. The doctor may try to stop labor in a baby that is not developed enough. Some ways this may be treated are with:
PreventionThis problem cannot always be prevented. Early and regular prenatal care can help find and treat some problems before they happen. RESOURCES:American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists http://www.acog.org American Pregnancy Association http://www.americanpregnancy.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada http://sogc.org Women's Health Matters https://www.womenshealthmatters.ca References:American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Practice Bulletins—Obstetrics. Practice Bulletin No. 171: Management of Preterm Labor. Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Oct;128(4):e155-64, reaffirmed 2018. Premature and preterm labor. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed July 21, 2020.
Preterm labor. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/preterm-labor. Updated November 14, 2019. Accessed July 21, 2020.
7/15/2016 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance.
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/preterm-labor: Saccone G, Berghella V, et al. Celiac disease and obstetric complications: a systematic review and metaanalysis. 2016;214(2):225-234.
Last reviewed March 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Elliot M. Levine, MD, FACOG Last Updated: 3/16/2021 | |