Causes of Preterm Birth ✅ Flashcards
What % of infants are preterm?
7%
In what situations can preterm labour occur?
- Spontaneous onset of labour with intact membranes
- Following preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)
- Medical or fetal indications
What % of preterm labours are due to spontaneous onset of labour with intact membranes?
40-45%
What % of preterm labours are following PPROM?
25-30%
What % of preterm labours are for medical or fetal indications?
30-35%
What can cause preterm labour?
Most cases are idiopathic, but causes include;
- Intrauterine stretch
- Intrauterine infection
- PPROM
- Fetal causes
- Maternal medical conditions
- Cervical weakness
What can cause intrauterine stretch?
- Multiple gestation
- Polyhydraminos
- Uterine abnormality
What can cause intrauterine bleeding?
- Abruption
- Antepartum haemorrhage
What can cause intrauterine infection?
- Chorioamnionitis
- Bacterial vaginitis
Give 2 fetal causes of preterm labour?
- IUGR
- Congenital malformations
Give 3 maternal medical conditions that can cause preterm labour?
- Pre-eclampsia
- Hypertension
- Chronic medical conditions
What are the risk factors for preterm birth?
- Previous preterm delivery
- Maternal age
- Maternal nutrition
- Ethnicity
- Multiple births
- Maternal infection
- Maternal stress or socio-economic deprivation
- Maternal smoking or substance abuse
What maternal age is at increased risk of pre-term delivery?
Under 20 or over 35
Why are mothers with a low BMI at increased risk of preterm delivery?
Associated with spontaneous preterm birth
Why are mothers with a high BMI at increased risk of preterm delivery?
Increased risk of pre-eclampsia and diabetes mellitus
