Last reviewed: 8 Feb 2021
Last updated: 27 Jan 2021
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- maternal last menstrual period (LMP)
- distance from the maternal superior pubis to the uterine fundus
- infant physical maturity score
- infant neuromuscular maturity score
- combined physical/neuromuscular score <10: gestational age <28 weeks
- combined physical/neuromuscular score 11 to 19: gestational age 29 to 31 weeks
- combined physical/neuromuscular score 20 to 24: gestational age 32 to 33 weeks
- combined physical/neuromuscular score 25 to 33: gestational age 34 to 36 weeks
Other diagnostic factors
- infant birth weight (appropriate for gestational age infants)
Risk factors
- spontaneous preterm labour
- intra-uterine infection
- preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)
- pre-eclampsia/pregnancy-induced hypertension
- abruption/antepartum haemorrhage
- abnormal amniotic fluid volume
- severe bacterial vaginosis
- multiple gestation
- previous preterm birth
- fetal abnormality
- cervical incompetence/uterine abnormality
- gestational diabetes
- maternal surgery during pregnancy
- chronic maternal illness
- short inter-pregnancy time interval
- drug use (tobacco, cocaine, heroin)
- maternal pregnancy body mass index <19 or >35
- stress/depression
- non-white race
Diagnostic investigations
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Associate Professor
Section of Neonatology and Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston
TX
Disclosures
MP declares that he has no competing interests.
Dr Mohan Pammi would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Stephen Welty and Dr James L. Wynn, previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
SW and JLW declare that they have no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Gloucester
UK
Disclosures
IB declares that he has no competing interests.
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