Spontaneous Preterm Labour and Birth (Elements in High Risk Pregnancy: Management Options)

By: null Natasha L. Hezelgrave and null Andrew Shennan

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Synopsis: Spontaneous preterm birth remains the leading cause of neonatal death, and the second leading cause of mortality worldwide in children below 5 years of age. The causes of preterm birth are multifactorial, likely contributing to why significant progress in reducing the incidence has been slow. This Element contains the most up to date evidence regarding the aetiology, epidemiology and management of pregnancies at risk of, or complicated by spontaneous preterm birth and preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, concentrating largely on those aspects potentially amendable to preventative intervention, i.e. cervical dysfunction and premature uterine contractility, as well as strategies to improve outcomes for infants born prematurely.