This document provides information from a lecture on preterm birth and its modern management. It begins with polling questions on topics like the percentage of preterm births in the US and trends over time. It then defines preterm birth and its subdivisions. It discusses risks of prematurity like infant death and long-term complications. It notes that since 2006, the US preterm birth rate has dropped for the sixth consecutive year. However, the US rate remains the highest among industrialized nations. The document explores factors that may be contributing to the decline in preterm births and reviews evidence on the effects of prenatal care. It also examines current understanding of the pathology underlying preterm labor and discusses progesterone and 17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone cap