Citation
Thorp, John M., Jr. & ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins, (2003). Management of Preterm Labor. ACOG Practice Bulletin, No. 43. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 101(5), 1039-1047.Abstract
Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal mortality in the United States, and preterm labor precedes 40-50% of preterm births. Preterm birth accounts for 35% of all U.S. health care spending for infants and 10% of all such spending for children. Approximately 467,000 live births annually (11.5% of all live births) occur before term in the United States, and preterm births are responsible for three quarters of neonatal mortality and one half of long-term neurologic impairments in children. The purpose of this document is to present the various methods proposed to manage preterm labor and the evidence for their roles in clinical practice. Despite the numerous management methods proposed the incidence of preterm birth has changed little over the past 40 years (Fig. 1). Uncertainty persists about the best strategies for managing preterm labor.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0020-7292(03)00247-9Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2003Journal Title
Obstetrics & GynecologyAuthor(s)
Thorp, John M., Jr.ACOG Committee on Practice Bulletins,