Premature birth risk

Presence of uterine contractions with a minimum rhythm of 4 contractions every 30 minutes, between the 22nd and 37th week of gestation.

80% of preterm labor risk consultations do not end up in preterm labor. Two thirds of the cases will not go into labor in the following 48 hours, and more than a third will end up being full-term labors. It is the main cause of neonatal death.

Different maternal-fetal factors come into play that may activate the labor mechanisms: pregnancy hypertension, placenta previa, amniotic liquid infection (chorioamnionitis), acute fetal suffering, etc.  

It manifests similarly to labor symptoms, such as lower abdominal pain, lumbar pain, sensation of pelvic pressure and increase of uterine hardness along with the contractions. It may also be accompanied by increased vaginal flux or genital hemorrhage.

Diagnosis for its suspicions is clinical, through questioning and gynecological exploration. It will be confirmed after a gynecological screening and a CTG. A blood sample will be taken to study the anemic and coagulation status, and where biochemical markers such as the Fetal Fibronectin Test can be quantified.

Treatment will be based on stopping labor dynamics or tocolysis, fetal lung maturation by means of corticosteroids and fetal neuronal prophylaxis. The pregnant woman should rest and sometimes be admitted to the Obstetric Risk Unit for continuous monitoring of the mother and fetus. If the triggering cause is premature rupture of membranes, antibiotic treatment will be added.