La threatened preterm labor It is the presentation of regular contractions with cervical modification (the cervix shortens, dilates, etc.) between week 22 and week 36+6.
Thanks to Dr. Isabel Rodríguez-Piñero Cebrián, specialist of the Women's Unit of the Ruber International Hospital, we are going to discover in a summarized way what the Risks, causes, and treatments in cases of threatened preterm labor.
What is the risk of threatened preterm labor?
When a patient is admitted with the threat of preterm labor, the actual risk of it actually occurring is very low, only 10%The reality is that there are many false positives in the diagnosis of threatened preterm labor.
What are the causes?
Typically, a case of threatened preterm labor has a multifactorial origin. But we can define three causes that are clearly identified:
- Uterine overextension. This occurs, mainly in multiple pregnancies, as well as in cases of patients with polyhydramnios. Polyhydramnios is the excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid.
- Cases of infectionsWhen a pregnant woman suffers from appendicitis, pyelonephritis (kidney infection, etc.), the risk of premature delivery increases.
- Infections inside the uterus.
What are the risk factors for threatened preterm labor?
In general, the following risk factors can be identified:
- Multiparity, that is, cases of multiple pregnancies.
- Women with background of threatened preterm labor before the 34th week of gestation.
- Patients with a short cervixThis is something that is monitored in various pregnancy monitoring ultrasounds, primarily starting in week 20. We measure the cervix to identify possible changes.
- Background of a cervical conizationCervical conization is a minimally invasive surgery performed on women with a lesion in the cervix.
- Cases of uterine malformations.
What is the treatment and procedure to follow?
In case of carrying out a diagnosis of threatened preterm labor, the procedure will be followed patient admission, as well as the administration of corticosteroids to accelerate the baby's lung maturation.
In addition, tocolytics are also administered, which is the medication used to reduce uterine contractions, allowing the corticosteroids to act to allow the baby's lungs to mature.
Related articles
- Cesarean section, postpartum and scar care
- Types of contractions and the beginning of labor
- Risks in pregnancy at an advanced age
If you found this article interesting and would like to be seen by a professional expert in Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Women's Unit at Ruber International Hospital has a specialized unit in this area. You can request more information by calling the following numbers: 91 387 51 72/73/74 or make an appointment for an in-person consultation, always with the best specialists.