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Abstract
Prematurity is defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of gestation. The condition is the leading cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity .
Prematurity represents a major cause of perinatal death and long term
handicap . Although the incidence of preterm labor has not changed over many years , neonatology has advanced and the survival of babies has improved .
Spontaneous preterm labor can be under stood as a syndrome with a number of underlying factors including infection , maternal stress , past history of induced abortions , uterine abnormalities , previous preterm birth , life style , behaviour and socioeconomic state . uterine distension , placental hypoxia and bleeding also contribute .
Many obstetric disorders in the current pregnancy as bleeding , pre-eclampsia , multiple pregnancy and cervical incompetence share in the occurrence of preterm labor .
Preterm labor is a clinical diagnosis including regular contractions , diltation and shortening of the cervix .
Methods of prediction of preterm labor include history , cervical examination , ultrasound evaluation of the cervix and home uterine monitoring .Also human chorionic gonadotropin and oncofetal fibronectin assay.