Evidence-based labour ward guidelines for the diagnosis, management and treatment of spontaneous preterm labour

Currently, there is considerable variation in the way spontaneous preterm labour is diagnosed and managed internationally. As a result, 12 international leading experts from 10 countries met to establish consensus on clinical recommendations and guidelines regarding the diagnosis, management and treatment of spontaneous preterm labour. The consensus was supported by evidence from quality literature published during the last 15 years and graded using the National Health Service Executive classification system (Grades A - C), endorsed by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The Council found enough evidence of a lack of a consensus across nations to recommend guidelines. It is hoped that these international guidelines, while not meant to be prescriptive, will initiate discussion and correspondence for a basis for implementation on a national level and be adapted for local clinical practice, leading to further meetings around the world, to discuss other areas including infection, mode of delivery and in-utero transfer.