Preterm labor occurs between 20 and 36 weeks of gestation and is a leading cause of neonatal death worldwide, with an incidence rate of 10-15%. Factors contributing to preterm labor include maternal medical history, lifestyle, and pregnancy complications, with management strategies focused on preventing labor and improving neonatal care. Effective interventions include bed rest, hydration, tocolytic agents, and monitoring, with the goal of reducing perinatal morbidity and mortality.

1. CME ON
PRETERM LABOR
DR. LIPIKA RANI BISWAS
ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
GYNAE UNIT 1
FARIDPUR MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL
DR. FAISAL ABDULLAH
INTERN DOCTOR

2. 1 Late Preterm
34 to 36 weeks 3 Extreme
Preterm< 28 weeks
2 Very Preterm
28 to 33 weeks
When labor starts after the age of
viability but before 37 completed weeks.
WHAT IS
PRETERM LABOR?

3. INCIDENC
E
Worldwide
Incidence rate
10-15%
About 75%
delivered within
34 to 36 weeks
Major cause of
neonatal death
worldwide.

4. ETIOLOGY
History Complication
s in Present
Pregnancy
Iatrogenic Idiopathic
High Risk Factors

5. HISTORY
Etiology
• Induced or Spontaneous Abortion or
Preterm Delivery
• ART
• Recurrent urinary tract infection
• Smoking
• Low socioeconomic and nutritional status
• Stress

6. Maternal
• Pregnancy Complications
• Uterine anomalies
• Medical and surgical
illness
• Genital tract infection
Fetal
• Multiple pregnancy
• Congenital
malformations
• Intrauterine death
Placental
• Infarction
• Thrombosis
• Placenta previa
• Abruptio Placenta
COMPLICATIONS IN
PRESENT
PREGNANCY

7. IATROGENIC
Indicated medical
preterm delivery
IDIOPATHIC
• Premature effacement
of the cervix
• Early engagement

8. PATHOGENESIS
Activation
of
myometrium
Premature
Rupture of
Membrane
Premature
Ripening of
Cervix
Iatrogenic
Preterm
Labor

9. ETIOPATHOGENESIS

10. Symptoms
• Pain
• Pelvic pressure
• Menstrual like cramps
• Watery vaginal discharge
• Low back pain.
Signs
• Uterine contraction: 1 in 10
minutes.
• Cervical length : ≤ 2.5 cM
• Cervical dilatation : ≥ 2 cm
• Cervical effacement: 80% or more
DIAGNOSIS OF
PRETERM
LABOR

11. PRINCIPLE OF
MANAGEMENT
To arrest
preterm labor,
if not
contraindicate
d
Appropriate
management
of labor
To prevent
preterm onset
of labor,
if possible
Effective
neonatal
care

12. Clinical
Predictors
• History of prior PTL
• Multiple Pregnancy
• Recurrent UTI and GT
Infection
Biophysical
Predictors
• Uterine contraction ≥4 /hr
• Cervical Length and
dilatation ≤ 2.5 cm
• Bishop’s score ≥4
Biochemical
Predictors
• Fetal Fibronectin
• IL -6
• IL-8
• TNF-α
PREDICTION &
PREVENTION

13. MEASURES TO
ARREST
PRETERM LABORWhen both maternal and fetal condition is
good and membrane is intact:
• Bed rest
• Adequate hydration
• Prophylactic antibiotic
• Glucocorticoid
• Tocolytic agent

14. DRUGS USED AS
TOCOLYTIC
1 Calcium
Channel Blocker
Nifedipine
3 Magnesium
Sulphate
2 Beta Mimetic
Drug
Salbutamol
Terbutaline
Ritodrine
4 Oxytocin
Antagonist
Atosiban

15. PROGESTERONE
TO PREVENT ONSET OF PTL
• Natural Progesterone:
200 mg twice daily from 18 weeks to delivery till 37 weeks
• Micronized Progesterone:
200 mg daily from 20 weeks till 37 weeks
• 17 Hydroxy Progesterone:
Synthetic progesterone 250 mg IM weekly from 16-20 weeks to 37 weeks
• Cervical Cerclage:
Given between 14-16 weeks of gestation

16. MANAGEMENT OF
PRETERM LABOR
•First Stage:
•The patient is put to bed to prevent early rupture of
membrane
•Ensure adequate fetal oxygenation
•Epidural analgesia
•Labor should be monitored by EFM
•Cesarean section is done for obstetric causes

17. Second Stage:
•The birth should be gentle and slow to avoid rapid
compression & decompression of the head
•Episiotomy to minimize head compression
•Tendency to delay curtailed by forceps
•The cord is clamped immediately after birth to prevent
hypervolemia
•Shift the baby to NICU

18. CONCLUSIO
N
Preterm labor is one of the most important causes of
perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. It is also
related to maternal morbidity .Intelligent anticipation,
timely interference, careful labor monitoring and
NICU support can reduce this mortality and morbidity
to a great extent.