Treatment of Preterm Labor and Delivery

by ]]>Karen Schroeder Kassel, MS, RD, MEd]]>

If you are experiencing any symptoms of preterm labor, call your doctor immediately. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may tell you to come to the office or the hospital. Or, your doctor may advise you to stay at home. He or she may tell you to drink two to three glasses of water or juice and rest on your left side for one hour. If your symptoms do not improve in one hour, or improve but return later, call your doctor again or go to the hospital. If your symptoms go away, lay down for the rest of the day. Your doctor may ask you to come to the office for a checkup.

If your preterm labor progresses, you should go to the hospital. Treatment at the hospital may include the following:

Your doctor may decide not to treat your preterm labor. In such cases, labor is allowed to continue to delivery. These cases may include:

A lot of vaginal bleeding
Very ]]>high blood pressure]]>
An infection in your uterus
The baby has fatal birth defects or has died already
The placenta has separated from the wall of the uterus (placental abruption)

References:

Premature birth. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=DB81ABF4-378D-453B-AFD7BF32AD6F01E7&dsection=1 . Accessed September 23, 2005.

Preterm labor. March of Dimes website. Available at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_1080.asp . Accessed September 22, 2005.

Preterm labor. University of Michigan Health System website. Available at: http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/wha/wha_ptl_crs.htm . Accessed September 23, 2005.

Treating preterm labor. March of Dimes website. Available at: http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/13454_13468.asp . Accessed September 22, 2005.

Last reviewed June 2007 by ]]>Jeff Andrews, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.