Book contents
- Best Practice in Labour and Delivery
- Reviews
- Best Practice in Labour and Delivery
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface to the Third Edition
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Pelvic and Fetal Cranial Anatomy and the Stages and Mechanism of Labour
- Chapter 2 The First Stage of Labour
- Chapter 3 Analgesia and Anaesthesia in Labour and Delivery
- Chapter 4 Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring
- Chapter 5 Uterine Contractions
- Chapter 6 Identification and Management of Presumed Intrapartum Fetal Distress
- Chapter 7 Prolonged Second Stage of Labour Including Difficult Decision-Making on Assisted Vaginal Birth and Caesarean Birth
- Chapter 8 Instrumental Vaginal Deliveries
- Chapter 9 Vaginal Breech Deliveries and External Cephalic Version
- Chapter 10 The Evidence-Based Caesarean Delivery Technique
- Chapter 11 Shoulder Dystocia
- Chapter 12 Umbilical Cord Prolapse
- Chapter 13 Twin Delivery
- Chapter 14 Antepartum Haemorrhage
- Chapter 15 Management of the Third Stage of Labour
- Chapter 16 Postpartum Haemorrhage
- Chapter 17 Management of Placenta Accreta Spectrum
- Chapter 18 Acute Illness and Maternal Collapse
- Chapter 19 Episiotomy and Obstetric Perineal Trauma
- Chapter 20 Induction of Labour
- Chapter 21 Preterm Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes
- Chapter 22 Preterm Birth
- Chapter 23 Labour in Women with Medical Disorders
- Chapter 24 Management of Women with Previous Caesarean Section
- Chapter 25 Hypertensive Disorders in Labour and Delivery
- Chapter 26 Rupture of the Uterus
- Chapter 27 Neonatal Resuscitation and the Management of Immediate Neonatal Problems
- Chapter 28 The Immediate Puerperium
- Chapter 29 Triage and Prioritisation on Labour Wards
- Chapter 30 Maternity Training in the Twenty-First Century
- Chapter 31 Risk Management in Intrapartum Care
- Chapter 32 Cerebral Palsy Arising from Events in Labour
- Chapter 33 Non-technical Skills to Improve Obstetric Practice
- Index
- References
Chapter 22 - Preterm Birth
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 October 2025
Edited by
Book contents
- Best Practice in Labour and Delivery
- Reviews
- Best Practice in Labour and Delivery
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface to the Third Edition
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Pelvic and Fetal Cranial Anatomy and the Stages and Mechanism of Labour
- Chapter 2 The First Stage of Labour
- Chapter 3 Analgesia and Anaesthesia in Labour and Delivery
- Chapter 4 Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring
- Chapter 5 Uterine Contractions
- Chapter 6 Identification and Management of Presumed Intrapartum Fetal Distress
- Chapter 7 Prolonged Second Stage of Labour Including Difficult Decision-Making on Assisted Vaginal Birth and Caesarean Birth
- Chapter 8 Instrumental Vaginal Deliveries
- Chapter 9 Vaginal Breech Deliveries and External Cephalic Version
- Chapter 10 The Evidence-Based Caesarean Delivery Technique
- Chapter 11 Shoulder Dystocia
- Chapter 12 Umbilical Cord Prolapse
- Chapter 13 Twin Delivery
- Chapter 14 Antepartum Haemorrhage
- Chapter 15 Management of the Third Stage of Labour
- Chapter 16 Postpartum Haemorrhage
- Chapter 17 Management of Placenta Accreta Spectrum
- Chapter 18 Acute Illness and Maternal Collapse
- Chapter 19 Episiotomy and Obstetric Perineal Trauma
- Chapter 20 Induction of Labour
- Chapter 21 Preterm Pre-labour Rupture of Membranes
- Chapter 22 Preterm Birth
- Chapter 23 Labour in Women with Medical Disorders
- Chapter 24 Management of Women with Previous Caesarean Section
- Chapter 25 Hypertensive Disorders in Labour and Delivery
- Chapter 26 Rupture of the Uterus
- Chapter 27 Neonatal Resuscitation and the Management of Immediate Neonatal Problems
- Chapter 28 The Immediate Puerperium
- Chapter 29 Triage and Prioritisation on Labour Wards
- Chapter 30 Maternity Training in the Twenty-First Century
- Chapter 31 Risk Management in Intrapartum Care
- Chapter 32 Cerebral Palsy Arising from Events in Labour
- Chapter 33 Non-technical Skills to Improve Obstetric Practice
- Index
- References
Summary
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity. The long-term health problems associated with PTB are significant. Despite many strategies to identify and treat preterm birth and labour, there remains slow progress in reducing the rates of PTBs. The causes of PTBs are multifactorial. There needs to be a good and coordinated approach to the identification of risk factors, screening strategies and appropriate interventions to have any impact on reducing the rates of PTBs worldwide. Currently, there is no single diagnostic test that should be used exclusively to direct management in the setting of threatened preterm labour. Tests to stratify risks of PTB include biochemical markers such as fetal fibronectin and transvaginal ultrasound of cervical length. Common interventions for preterm labour include tocolysis, antenatal corticosteroids and magnesium sulphate for neuroprotection. This chapter analyses the causes and risk factors for PTB, screening strategies and preventative initiatives to prevent PTB, and reviews the evidence and current guidelines in the screening and prevention of PTB.
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- Best Practice in Labour and Delivery , pp. 272 - 284Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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