BACKGROUND The aetiology of preterm birth remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate if an association exists between prenatal alcohol consumption and preterm birth and to determine if such an association differs by subcategories of preterm birth. METHODS We employed vital statistics data from the state of Missouri covering the period 1989-2005 (n = 1 221 677 singl...

BACKGROUND As the second paper in a two-part series on preterm labor, this article discusses the management of preterm labor as it relates to risk reduction, tocolytic therapy, corticosteroids, and antibiotics. METHODS Published literature on the management of preterm labor was reviewed by searching MEDLINE files from 1983 to the present, using the terms "preterm labor," "premature labor," "p...

Background: Preterm birth is a major challenges faced by obstetricians worldwide. Globally, an estimated 13 million babies are born before 37 completed weeks of gestation annually. Preterm birth is the leading direct cause of neonatal death (27%); more than one million preterm newborns die annually. According to report „India is among the top 10 countries that account for 60 per cent of the wor...

Background: To determine maternal risk factors and perinatal outcomes of preterm births in south-western Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective study of preterm and term deliveries in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. The delivery records were reviewed and case files of preterm births were identified and retrieved. Perinatal outcomes were determined by review of the postnatal and special care baby uni...

In order to assess racial differences in rates of idiopathic preterm labour, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and medically indicated preterm delivery, the authors analysed data on 388 preterm (< 37 completed weeks of gestation) births (7.9% of all births) occurring between 1 September 1988 and 31 August 1989, in three central North Carolina counties. The crude relative risk (RR) of pret...

BACKGROUND Preterm birth is a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, resulting in a pressing need to identify risk factors leading to effective interventions. Limited evidence suggests potential relationships between maternal sleep or vital exhaustion and preterm birth, yet the literature is generally inconclusive. METHODS We examined the relationship between maternal s...

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between prepregnancy maternal body mass Index (BMI) and preterm birth. Materials and Methods: This study included 231 healthy pregnant women, without any risk factors of preterm birth, were classified into categories that were based on their body mass index. Association between BMI, weight in 28-32 weeks of pregnancy, gestationa...

conclusions the present research revealed that the number of days to reach oral feeding in our preterm babies was decreased by oral motor stimulation, which in turn conferred earlier hospital discharge. results transition to oral feeding was acquired significantly earlier in the infants in the experimental group than in the controls: 13 and 26 days, respectively (p < 0.001). likewise, the lengt...

BACKGROUND Preterm birth rate is increasing and is currently a worldwide concern. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of preterm birth in a sample of health facilities in Brazil and to identify the main risk factors associated with spontaneous preterm births. METHODS AND FINDINGS This was a multicentre cross sectional study on preterm births in 20 referral obstetric hospi...