PRETERM LABOR

Question 1

• Labor that occurs before the end of 37th week of gestation.
• It occurs in approximately 9%-11% of all pregnancies.

Answer 1

premature / preterm labor

Question 2

• It is responsible for almost two thirds of all infant deaths in the neonatal period
• Often related to multiple
  risk factors & rarely due
  to a single risk factor.

Answer 2

premature labor

Question 3

risk factors for spontaneous PTL:
- History of genital tract c___, i___, or i___
- D___
- A___-A___ race
- B___ of uncertain origin in pregnancy
- History of a previous s___ p___ birth between 16 and 36 weeks of gestation
- Uterine a___
- Use of a___ r___ technology
- m___ gestation

Answer 3

colonization, infection, instrumentation
dehydration
african-american
bleeding
spontaneous preterm
anomaly
assisted reproductive
multifetal

Question 4

risk factors for spontaneous PTL:
- c___ s___ and s___ a___
- Pre-pregnancy u___BMI ‹ 19.6 and pre-pregnancy o___ BMI › 30
- P___ disease
- Limited e___ and low s___ status
- Late ___ care
- High levels of personal s___ in one or more domains of life

Answer 4

cigarette smoking and susbstance abuse
underweight; obesity
periodontal
education; socioeconomic
prenatal
stress

Question 5

s/sx of PTL

Answer 5

• change and increase in discharge
• lower abd pressure
• constant, low, dull backache
• abd cramps
• regular painless contractions
• rupture of membrane

Question 6

criteria for PTL - gestationl age?

Answer 6

between 20 - 36 6/7 weeks

Question 7

other criterias for PTL

Answer 7

• regular uterine activity, change in cervical effacement and dilation
• regular contractions with cervical dilation of atleast 2 cm

Question 8

management?

Answer 8

• bed rest
• IV therapy
• tocolytics

Question 9

therapeutic management?

Answer 9

• corticosteroids
• cervical cerclage
• antibiotics

Question 10

Self-Care Measures to Prevent PTL
1. Rest ___ times a day lying on ___ side.
2. Drink ___ of water or fruit juice each day. Avoid ___drinks.
3. Empty bladder at least every ___ hours during waking hours.
4. Avoid ___ objects

Answer 10

2-3 x; left
2-3 quarts; caffeine
2 hours
lifting heavy objects

Question 11

If the woman experiences any PTL symptoms for more than 15 minutes while physically active, she should be instructed to do the following:
- Empty b___ to relieve pressure on the uterus.
- Lie down on ___ side to encourage blood return to uterus.
- Drink ___ glasses of fluid or juice.
- Palpate for uterine contractions, & if contractions occur ___ apart or less for 1 hour, consult or notify health care provider

Answer 11

bladder
left or right
2-3 glasses
10 minutes

Question 12

If the woman experiences any PTL symptoms for more than 15 minutes while physically active, she should be instructed to do the following:
- Soak in a ___ with the uterus completely submerged (if applicable).
- Rest for ___ after the symptoms have subsided, & gradually resume activity.
- ___ if symptoms persist, even if uterine contractions are not palpable

Answer 12

warm tub bath
30 minutes
contact a health care provider