PRETERM LABOR AND PRE

LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEM

BRANE
Prepared by: CUERDO, MARIEA VERONICA F.
BSM 2
WHAT IS PRETERM LABO
R??
PRETERM LABOR
• Preterm and premature mean the same thing — ea
rly.
• Preterm labor is labor that begins early, before 37
weeks of pregnancy.
• Preterm labor can lead to premature birth.
• Premature birth is when your baby is born early, be
fore 37 weeks of pregnancy. Your baby needs abou
t 40 weeks in the womb to grow and develop befor
e birth.
PRETERM LABOR

• Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy are calle

d premature.
• Premature babies can have serious health problems
at birth and later in life. About 1 in 10 babies is bor
n prematurely each year in the United States
What are the signs
and symptoms of pre
term labor?
PRETERM LABOR

• Signs of a condition are things someone else ca

n see or know about you, like you have a rash or
you’re coughing.
• Symptoms are things you feel yourself that othe
rs can’t see, like having a sore throat or feeling
dizzy.
• If you have even one of these signs and sympto
ms of preterm labor, call your provider right awa
y:
PRETERM LABOR

• Change in your vaginal discharge (watery, mucus or

bloody) or more vaginal discharge than usual.
• Pressure in your pelvis or lower belly, like your baby
is pushing down
• Constant low, dull backache
• Belly cramps with or without diarrhea
• Regular or frequent contractions that make your bel
ly tighten like a fist. The contractions may or may n
ot be painful.
• Your water breaks
PRETERM LABOR

• He may do a pelvic exam or a transvaginal ultraso

und to see if your cervix has started to thin out an
d open for labor.
PRETERM LABOR

These three risk factors make you most likely to h

ave preterm labor and give birth early:

• You’ve had a premature baby in the past.

• You’re pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets o
r more).
• You have problems with your uterus or cervix no
w or you’ve had them in the past. Your uterus (a
lso called the womb) is where your baby grows i
nside you.
PRETERM LABOR
Medical risk factors before pregnancy for preterm labo
r and premature birth

• Being underweight or overweight before preg

nancy.
• Having a family history of premature birth.
• Getting pregnant again too soon after having a
baby. For most women it’s best to wait at least
18 months before getting pregnant again.
PRETERM LABOR

Medical risk factors during pregnancy for preterm

labor and premature birth
• Connective tissue disorders, like Ehlers-Danlos synd
romes (also called EDS) and vascular Ehlers-Danlos
syndrome (also called vEDS).
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure and preeclampsia.
• Infections
• Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (also called IC
P)
• Thrombophilias
PRETERM LABOR

Here’s what you can do to reduce your risk for pret

erm labor and premature birth:
• Get to a healthy weight before pregnancy and gain
the right amount of weight during pregnancy.
• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol use street drugs or abus
e prescription drugs.
• Go to your first prenatal care checkup as soon as yo
u think you’re pregnant.
• Get treated for chronic health conditions, like high
blood pressure, diabetes, depression and thyroid pr
oblems.
PRETERM LABOR

• Protect yourself from infections.

• Reduce your stress.
• Wait at least 18 months between giving birth and g
etting pregnant again.
PRETERM LABOR

Risk factors in your everyday life for preterm l

abor and premature birth
• Smoking, drinking alcohol, using street drugs or abu
sing prescription drugs
• Having a lot of stress in your life.
• Domestic violence.
• Working long hours or having to stand a lot.
• Exposure to air pollution, lead, radiation and chemi
cals in things like paint, plastics and secondhand sm
oke.
WHAT IS PRE LABOUR RUP
TURE MEMBRANE??
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

• Pre labour rupture of membranes (PROM) is the

term used when your waters have broken prior t
o your labour starting. This means that the prot
ective sac of fluid around your baby now has a h
ole in it that is allowing the water to drain away.
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

What causes premature rupture of membranes?

• Rupture of the membranes near the end of pregnancy (t

erm) may be caused by a natural weakening of the mem
branes or from the force of contractions. Before term, P
PROM is often due to an infection in the uterus.
• Other factors that may be linked to PROM include the fol
lowing:
• Low socioeconomic conditions (as women in lower socio
economic conditions are less likely to receive proper pre
natal care)
• Sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and g
onorrhea
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

• Previous preterm birth

• Vaginal bleeding
• Cigarette smoking during pregnancy
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

Why is premature rupture of membranes a concern?

• PROM is a complicating factor in as many as one thir

d of premature births. A significant risk of PPROM is
that the baby is very likely to be born within a few da
ys of the membrane rupture. Another major risk of P
ROM is development of a serious infection of the pla
cental tissues called chorioamnionitis, which can be
very dangerous for mother and baby. Other complica
tions that may occur with PROM include placental ab
ruption (early detachment of the placenta from the
uterus), compression of the umbilical cord, cesarean
birth, and postpartum (after delivery) infection.
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

What are the symptoms of PROM?

• Leaking or a gush of watery fluid from the vagina
• Constant wetness in underwear

~If you notice any symptoms of PROM, be sure to call

your doctor as soon as possible. The symptoms of PR
OM may resemble other medical conditions. Consult
your doctor for a diagnosis.f
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

How is premature rupture of membranes diagnosed?

• An examination of the cervix (may show fluid leakin

g from the cervical opening)
• Testing of the pH (acid or alkaline) of the fluid
• Looking at the dried fluid under a microscope (may
show a characteristic fern-like pattern)
• Ultrasound.
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

Treatment for premature rupture of membra

nes
• Specific treatment for PROM will be determined by
your doctor based on:
• Your pregnancy, overall health, and medical history
• Extent of the condition
• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures,
or therapies
• Expectations for the course of the condition
• Your opinion or preference
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

Treatment for premature rupture of membranes may include:

• Hospitalization
• Expectant management (in very few cases of PPROM, the membranes may s
eal over and the fluid may stop leaking without treatment, although this is u
ncommon unless PROM was from a procedure, such as amniocentesis, early i
n gestation)
• Monitoring for signs of infection, such as fever, pain, increased fetal heart rat
e, and/or laboratory tests.
• Giving the mother medications called corticosteroids that may help mature t
he lungs of the fetus (lung immaturity is a major problem of premature babie
s). However, corticosteroids may mask an infection in the uterus.
• Antibiotics (to prevent or treat infections)
• Tocolytics. Medications used to stop preterm labor.
• Women with PPROM usually deliver at 34 weeks if stable. If there are signs o
f abruption, chorioamnionitis, or fetal compromise, then early delivery would
be necessary.)
PRE LABOUR RUPTURE OF MEMBRANE

Prevention of premature rupture of membranes

• Unfortunately, there is no way to actively prevent P
ROM. However, this condition does have a strong li
nk with cigarette smoking and mothers should sto
p smoking as soon as possible.
SALAMAT PO❤️