Preterm Labor Management: A Narrative Review

Volume 8 Issue 4 November - January 2019

Review Paper

Preterm Labor Management: A Narrative Review

Madhusmita Nayak*

*Assistant Professor, SUM Nursing College, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa, India.

Nayak, M.,(2019). Preterm Labor Management: A Narrative Review, i-manager's Journal on Nursing 8(4),46-52. https://doi.org/10.26634/jnur.8.4.14910

Abstract

Giving birth is a beautiful experience and greatest achievement for a woman. And also everything is needed to be accomplished in appropriate time to avoid consequences. As like in preterm labor, where the labor occurs before the 37 th completed weeks is associated with various maternal and neonatal complications. As per statistics, about 28% of the neonatal death occurs due to preterm birth and the prevalence of preterm labor worldwide is around 11.5%. There are a lot many causes to it including preterm rupture of membranes (30%), urinary tract infections during pregnancy (35.8%), history of abortion (19.9%), and unplanned pregnancy (18.1%). But fortunately there are preventive measures like daily uterine activity monitoring, adequate bed rest and hydration, use of polar bear position, and vitamin C supplementation. If those fails, pharmacological treatment measures (tocolytics, Prostaglandin Inhibitors and Calcium Channel Blockers, Antibiotic therapy) can be used. However, the treatment and preventive measures is still a topic of debate. Also, nurses has a pivotal role in handling mothers with consequences.