By Dr Milton Lum

PRE-TERM is the leading cause of death in the first week of life (neonatal mortality) in most developed and middle-income countries. Pre-term labour precedes 40 to 50% of pre-term births. It is important to recognise that pre-term labour is not the only way that results in pre-term birth; many pre-term births are preceded by either medical or obstetric problems.

Although pre-term labour is defined as regular contractions that occur before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, associated with changes in the cervix, babies born before 34 weeks experience most mortality and handicap, if they survive. Babies born pre-term are more likely to have problems breathing, feeding, and regulating temperature as well as other problems. The likelihood of these problems arising is greater, the more pre-term a baby is.