Management of Preterm Labor

Preterm labor is defined as labor that occurs between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, before the baby has reached full term.

Identifying High-Risk Situations

• Cervical dilation: When the cervix has dilated to 3 cm or more
• Shortened cervical length combined with a positive fetal fibronectin test: This combination indicates that the body is preparing for delivery

Treatment Approach

Stopping Contractions

Tocolytic therapy uses medications like nifedipine or terbutaline to reduce uterine contractions and help delay delivery when possible.

Promoting Fetal Lung Development

Corticosteroids are given to mothers at less than 34 weeks' gestation to accelerate the baby's lung maturity, which is critical for breathing after birth.

Protecting the Baby's Brain

Magnesium sulfate is administered to mothers at less than 32 weeks' gestation for neuroprotection, helping to reduce the risk of cerebral palsy and other neurological complications in the baby. As an added benefit, magnesium sulfate also acts as a mild tocolytic, providing some additional help in reducing contractions.

Preventing Infection

Antibiotics are given as prophylaxis against Group B streptococcus, a common bacterium that can cause serious infections in newborns during delivery.