Preterm Birth: Causes, Prevention, and Management

Completely revised and expanded, this book continues as a major contribution to the growing body of literature on the subject of premature birth. The book is divided into three sections. Section I is devoted to the causes and predisposing factors in preterm birth. It shows how the application of risk identification can have a positive effect on the prevention of preterm birth. Discussions include such topics as the physiology involved in myometrial contraction and cervical dilation and the endocrinology of labor. In addition, this section deals with social, personal, and sexual issues surrounding prematurity, which are often inadequately covered in other books. Section II reviews the role of tocolysis and the most recent advances in uterine pharmacology. It provides a detailed review of treatments that inhibit preterm birth and low birth weight, and that permit a prolongation of pregnancy. Section III of the book covers not only the clinical management and outcome of preterm birth, but topics such as premature rupture of the membranes and its management, and nursing care during the treatment of preterm labor.