This practice bulletin reviews the evidence for various methods proposed to manage preterm labor, which accounts for approximately 70% of neonatal deaths and 36% of infant deaths.
What is the evidence for various methods proposed to manage preterm labor in clinical practice?
This practice bulletin reviews the evidence for various methods used to manage preterm labor in clinical practice.
Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and the most common reason for antenatal hospitalization (1–4). In the United States, approximately 12% of all live births occur before term, and preterm labor preceded approximately 50% of these preterm births (5, 6). Although the causes of preterm labor are not well understood, the burden of preterm births is clear—preterm births account for approximately 70% of neonatal deaths and 36% of infant deaths as well as 25–50% of cases of long-term neurologic impairment in children (7–9). A 2006 report from the Institute of Medicine estimated the annual cost of preterm birth in the United States to be 26. 2 billion or more than51, 000 per premature infant (10). However, identifying women who will give birth preterm is an inexact process. The purpose of this document is to present the various methods proposed to manage preterm labor and to review the evidence for the roles of these methods in clinical practice. Identification and management of risk factors for preterm labor are not addressed in this document.
A Wed, study conducted a review in Preterm labor. Methods to manage preterm labor was evaluated. This practice bulletin reviews the evidence for various methods proposed to manage preterm labor, which accounts for approximately 70% of neonatal deaths and 36% of infant deaths.