This document provides information on preterm and post-term labor. It defines preterm labor as onset of labor before 37 weeks of gestation and discusses the main risk factors, diagnosis, and management. Diagnosis requires documentation of regular contractions and cervical changes. Tocolytics and steroids are used to delay delivery. For post-term labor, it defines this as pregnancy exceeding 42 weeks and notes the risks include macrosomia, dystocia, and complications of prolonged labor. Conservative management or induction is recommended depending on cervical status and fetal well-being.

1. BY
M. ZEESHAN KHAN
RIZWAN ANWER
ZEESHAN LODHI
PRETERM AND POST-TERM
LABOUR

2. CONTENTS
 PRETERM LABOUR
 DEFINITION
 RISK FACTORS
 DIAGNOSIS
 INVESTIGATIONS
 PREDICITON AND PREVENTIONS
 TOCOLYTIC AGENTS
 MANAGEMENT
 PPROM(INTRODUCTION, DIAGNOSIS,MANAGEMENT)
 POST-TERM LABOUR
 INTRODUCTION
 SIGNIFICANCE
 CLINICAL APPROACH
 MANAGEMENT

3. DEFINITIONS
 PRE TERM PREGNANCY
 DELIVERY BEFORE 37 WEEKS OF GESTATION
 TERM PREGNANACY
 GP FROM 37 TO 41 + 6 days WEEKS
 POSTERM PREGNANCY
 GP FROM 42 WEEKS ONWARDS

4. PRETERM LABOUR
 Preterm labour is defined by WHO as Onset of
labour prior to the completion of 37 weeks of
gestation, in a pregnancy beyond 20 wks of
gestation.
 Preterm labour is considered to be established if
regular uterine contractions can be documented
atleast 4 in 20 minutes or 8 in 60 minutes with
progressive change in the cervical score in the form
of effacement of 80% or more and cervical
dialatation >1cm.

5. CONT’
 This condition tends to be over diagnosed and over
treated.
 Nearly 50-60% of preterm births occur following
spontaneous labour.
 30% due to preterm premature rupture of
membranes
 Rest are iatrogenic terminations for maternal or fetal
benefit.

6.  Half of all neonatal morbidity occurs in preterm
infants.
 Inspite of all major advances in obstetric and
neonatal care, there has been no decrease in
incidence of preterm labour over half a century.
 On the contrary , it has been increasing in the
developed countries as more and more high risk
mothers dare to get pregnant.

7. Incidence
 Preterm birth occurs in 5-12% of all pregnancies and
accounts for majority of neonatal deaths and nearly
half of all cases of congenital neurological disability,
including cerebral palsy.
 A neonate weighing 1000- 1500 g today has ten
times greater chance of surival then what it had in
1960s.
 The focus is hence shifting to early preterm
births(<32 weeks) which account for 1-2% of all
births but contribute to 60% of perinatal mortality
and nearly all neurological morbidity.

8.  One of the major reasons for increase in incidence of
premature births is the increase in numbers of
multiple pregnancies , particularly higher order
pregnancies, resulting from the use of fertility drugs
and assisted reproduction.

9. PRETERM LABOUR
5 -> 4 -> 4
 Mildly preterm 32 – 36 weeks
 Very preterm 28 – 31 days weeks
 Extremely preterm 24 – 27 weeks

10. AETIOLOGY
 INFECTIONS
 OVER-DISTENSION
 VASCULAR
 SURGICAL PROCEDURES AND INTERCURRENT
ILLNESS
 ABNORMAL UTERINE CAVITY
 CERVICAL WEAKNESS
 IDIOPATHIC

11. NON MODIFIABLE(MAJOR AND
MINOR)
MODIFIABLE
RISK FACTORS

12. RISK FACTORS
 MAJOR NON MODIFIABLE
 Last birth preterm: 20% risk
 Last two birth preterm : 40%risk
 Twin pregnancy: 50% risk
 Uterine abnormalities
 Cervical Anomalies
 Factors in current pregnancy

13.  Non modifiable , Minor
 Parity 0 or >5
 Ethnicity(Black)
 Poor socioeconomic status
 Education
 Teenagers having second or subsequent babies

14.  Modifiable
 Smoking :2x risk of PPROM
 Drug abuse : especially cocaine
 BMI <20
 Inter Pregnancy interval: <1year

15. DIAGNOSIS
 SYMPTOMS WITH CERVICAL WEAKNESS
 Increased vaginal discharge
 Mild Lower abdominal pain
 Bulging membranes on examination
 SYMPTOMS WITH INFECTION, ABRUPTION
 Lower abdominal pain
 Painful uterine contraction

16. DIGNOSTIC CRITERIA
1. GESTATIONAL AGE : 24-37 WEEKS
2. UTERINE CONTRACATION: ATLEAST 3
CONTRACTIONS IN 30 MINUTES
3. CERVICAL CHANGE: CHANGE IN CERVICAL
DIALTATION OR 2CM DILATED CERVIX

17. DIFFERNTIAL DIAGNOSIS
 UTI
 RED DEGERATION OF FIBROID
 PLACENTAL ABRUPTION
 CONSTIPATION
 GASTROENTERITIS

18. DIAGNOSTIC APPROACH
 HX
 EXAMINATIONS
 INVESTIGATIONS
 FBC
 CRP
 MID STREAM URINE SAMPLE
 U/S
 TVS
 FETAL FIBRONECTIN

19. PREVENTION
 Rx of BV
 Cervical Cerclage
 Selective Reduction of pregnancy numbers
 Progesterone ?

20. PREDICITON
 Cervical length
 TVS improves diagnostic accuracy
 Normal length 35 mm
 In asymptomatic women with singleton pregnancy
 Cervix <15 mm long : risk of delivering before 32 weeks is 4%
 Cervix <5 mm long: risk of delivering before 32 weeks is 78%
 In symptomatic woman with singleton pregnancy
 Cervix <15mm long : risk of delivering within 7 days is 50%
 Cervix >15 mm long: risk of delivery within 7 days is <1%

21. cont
 Fetal Fibronectin(fFn)- glue like protein at
choriodecidual interface
 fFN test offers rapid assessment of risk in symptomatic women
with minimal cervical dilatation,
 fFN is protein not usually present in cervicovaginal secretions
at 22-36weeks
 fFN positive test indicates that women is likely to deliver
 fFN predicts preterm birth within 7 – 10 days of testing
 Implying disruption of choriodecidual interface

22. TOCOLYTIC AGENTS AND STEROIDS
 Used to prevent labour and delivery
 May prolong pregnancy but not more than 72 hours
 Useful for fetal lung maturity by maternal IM steroids
 Transportation of mother to a facility with neonatal intensive
care

23. IMPORTANT TOCOLYTIC DRUNGS
TOCOLYTIC DRUGS SIDE EFFECTS
MAGNESIUM SULFATE
Competitive inhibitors of calcium
Overdose treated by IV ca gluconate
Resp depression
Muscle weakness
Pulmonary edema
Beta- Adrenergic agonist
Terbutaline
HTN and tachycardia
Hypokalemia
Hyperglycemia

24. cont
Calcium channel Blocker
Dec. intracellular Calcium
e.g nifidipine ,
Hypotension
Myocardial depression
Tachycardia
Prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor
Dec. smooth muscle contractility
e.g. Indomethacin
Fetal complications like
oligohydramnios, premature closure of
ductus and necritising enterocolitis
have restricted their use.

25. MATERNAL STEROIDS
 Reduces the rates of respiratory distress,
intraventricular hemorrhage and neonatal death
 Given as IM injection two doses 12-24 hrs apart.
 Maximum benefit is seen after 48 hours.

26. MANAGEMENT OF PRETERM LABOUR
 Confirm labour using three criteria listed above.
 Rule out contraindications of tocolysis
 Administer IV line
 Start MgSO4 tocolysis with 5g IV for 20 min, then
2g/h
 Adminster maternal IM betamethasone to stimulate
type II pneumocyte

27.  Clear plan about
 Mode of delivery
 Monitoring in labour
 Presence of pediatrician
 In antibiotics in labour

28. PRETERM PRELABOUR OF MEMBRANES
(PPROM)
 Rupture of fetal membranes occurring before 37 wks
of gestation.
 It complicates about 3 % of pregnancies and
contributes to one third of preterm births

29. RISK FACTORS
 Ascending infection of lower genital tract-most
common
 Multiple pregnancy
 Polyhydramnios
 Antepartum hemorrhage
 Placental abruption
 Cervical weakness
 Idiopathic

30. Diagnosis of PPROM
 History of sudden escape of watery amnoitic fluid.
 Oligohydramnios on US
 Pooling of amniotic fluid in posterior vagina
 A sterile speculum examination confirms that the fluid is
coming through the os.
 Nitrazine test: turns blue from yellow if amniotic fluid leak.
 Fern test
 Ultrasound examination shows oligohydramnios
 Amnisure test(immunochromatographic method) detects trace
amounts of placental microglobulin (PAMG-1)

31. Differential diagnosis
 It needs to be differentiated from stress urinary incontinence
 and profuse normal vaginal discharge.
 UTI
 Vaginal Infection

32. Management of PPROM
 Correct and prompt diagnosis is imperative for
optimum management.
PPROM remote from term: Conservative management
is advisable, provided acute cord complications like
prolapse and compression, placental abruption and
fetal distress have been excluded. Oligohydramnios is
not an indication.
 Antibiotics: help to prolong latency and improve perinatal
outcomes.
 Corticosteroids: should be given to patients between 24 and 34
weeks of gestation.

33. PPROM nearer to term(34-36 wks):
 It is preferable to induce labour unless fetal lung
maturity or gestational age is doubtful
 Serial transabdominal amnioinfusions in<26 wks
pregnancies with PPROM and severe
oligohydramnios in selected women reduce the risk
of pulmonary hypoplasia and improve neonatal
survival.

34. POST-TERM PREGNANCY
 Any pregnancy that exceeds 42 weeks from the first
day of last menstrual period in women with regular
28 day cycles
 Aka Postdate pregnancy and prolonged pregnancy

35. INCIDENCE
 The generally quoted incidence of PT pregnancy is
10%
 Incidence is decreasing b/c of better estimation of
duration of gestation and timely induction of labour.

36. RISK FACTORS
 Past history of prolonged pregnancy
 Family history
 Race (White>black)
 Anencephaly
 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
 Extra uterine pregnancy

37. COMPLICATION
 FETAL COMPLICATION
 Macrosomia Syndrome
 Dysmaturity Syndrome
 MATERNAL COMPLICATION
 Anxiety
 Prolonged labour
 C-section

38. Fetal Complications
 Macrosomia Syndrome
 Occurs when placental function is maintained(80% cases)
 Results in healthy but large fetus
 Amniotic fluid is normal
 Inc risk of C-section b/c of prolonged and arrested labour
 Shoulder dystocia

39.  Dysmaturity syndrome
 When placental function deteriorates (20% cases)
 Placental insufficiency results in reduction of metabolic and
respiratory support to fetus
 Amniotic fluid is decreased
 Inc risk of C-section b/c of non reassuring fetal heart rate
patterns
 Oligohydramnios results in umbilical cord compression

40. MATERNAL COMPLICATIONS
 Anxiety
 Is commonly seen postdate pregnancy b/c of worry of inc. in
gestation period from the EDD
 Prolonged labour
 Chances increases significantly and also the risk of
instrumental delivery
 C-section
 Risk of C-section is also greatly increased

41. MANAGEMENT
 It depends on the
 Confirmation of gestational age
 Favorability of cervix

42. CONFIRAMTION OF GESTATIONAL AGE
 In a booked case confirmation of gestational age is
easily determined
 In an unbooked case , diagnosis of post term
pregnancy poses a major challenge.

43. DETERMINATION OF GESTATIONAL AGE
 HISTORY
 LMP
 EARLY U/S
 FAMILY HISTORY
 HX OF NTDs
 EXAMINATION
 SFH
 BISHOP SCORING

44. INVESTIGATIONS
 U/S
 NST
 AFI
After confirmation of gestational age management
plan is decided

45. CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT
 50% women going beyond 42 weeks of gestation
experience spontaneous labour in 4-5 days
 Poor bishop score
 Good fetal health + adequate placental function

46. INDUCTION OF LABOUR
1. Favorable cervix
2. Oligohydramnios
3. Fetal macrosomia
4. Non reactive NST

47. FOR YOUR PATIENCE 
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