Preterm Labour - CTM Guideline 2020
Preterm Labour - CTM Guideline 2020
Preterm Labour - CTM Guideline 2020
VERSION: 1
Minor Amendments
If a minor change is required to the document, which does not require a full
review please identify the change below and update the version number.
i
CONTENTS
ii
1. Introduction
These guidelines have been developed for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University
Health Board, incorporating previous guidance from Cwm Taf University
Health Board and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board.
These guidelines replace any previous health board versions.
1
fetal monitoring
mode of birth and clamping the cord
Provide the woman and her family with oral and written information on
the care she will be offered. This information should include risks for the
baby (long and short term morbidity and as well as mortality). The
neonatal team should be closely involved in care planning and, where
possible, the parents should be given opportunity to visit the neonatal
unit as well as a consultation with a neonatal doctor.
2
results from a transvaginal ultrasound scan carried out between
16+0 and 24+0 weeks that show a cervical length of 25 mm or less.
Treatment with vaginal progesterone should start between 16+0 and 24+0
weeks and continue until at least 34 weeks.
The gestational age and the extent of cervical dilation should be taken
into account and discussed with a consultant obstetrician.
The risks of the procedure as well as the aim to delay birth to increase
the likelihood of the baby surviving and to reduce the risk of serious
neonatal morbidity should be discussed with the woman (and her family).
3
4. Diagnosis of preterm labour (with intact
membranes)
4
5. Fetal Fibronectin Testing
Fetal Fibronectin (fFN) is a simple and quick bed-side test that can be
used to aid diagnosis, with high sensitivity. A negative test can be safely
relied upon to rule out preterm labour and therefore reduce unnecessary
intervention and hospital admissions.
A fFN test result <200 ng/mL gives clinicians confidence that preterm
labour is not imminent, as less than 1% of women with this result will
deliver within 7 days and 8% of women will deliver within 14 days.
5
In the event of:
moderate or gross vaginal bleeding or
sexual intercourse within 24 hours
fFN can still be performed. However, only a result of <10 ng/mL can be
interpreted as a valid negative result. If the result is ≥10ng/mL clinical
judgement is advised.
6
12. Result will be given in ng/mL and should be interpreted and managed
according to the table below taking clinical judgement into consideration:
fFn % who will % who will % who will Suggested management
value give birth give birth give birth Clinical judgement should
ng/mL within 7 within 14 before 34 always be taken into
days days weeks consideration.
<10 1 <2 1.5 Consider alternative diagnoses.
Discharge with routine midwife
10-49 0 <2 8.2
follow-up.
50-199 0 <8 11.5 Consider admission.
Consider corticosteroids.
Tocolysis not recommended.
200-499 14 29 33 Admit.
Administer corticosteroids.
Inform neonatal unit.
≥500 38 46 75 Tocolysis.
MgSO4 if in labour and <30/40.
Antibiotics if in labour.
6. Tocolysis
Take the following factors into account when making a decision about
whether to start tocolysis:
whether the woman is in suspected or diagnosed preterm labour
7
other clinical features (for example, bleeding or infection) that may
suggest that stopping labour is contraindicated
gestational age at presentation
likely benefit of maternal corticosteroids
availability of neonatal care (need for transfer to another unit)
the preference of the woman.
Indication
Consider tocolysis for women between 24+0 and 25+6 weeks of
pregnancy who have intact membranes and are in suspected preterm
labour (fFN ≥200 ng/mL or clinical judgement).
Absolute contraindications
Maternal: cardiac shock, aortic stenosis, severe pre-eclampsia
Fetal: severe IUGR, fetal compromise
Obstetric: intra-uterine infection, abruption
Relative contraindications
Maternal: cardiac failure, diabetes mellitus, abnormal liver function,
previous hypotensive reaction
Obstetric: ruptured membranes, cervical dilatation >4cm
Choice of drug
When tocolysis is indicated nifedipine is the drug of choice (calcium
channel blocker, unlicensed for this indication). If nifedipine is
contraindicated an oxytocin-reception antagonist (atosiban) should be
offered.
8
Betamimetics (ritodrine) should not be used for tocolysis.
Nifedipine regime
Loading: 10 mg orally followed by a further 10mg every 20 minutes
for a maximum of 4 doses or until the contractions stop (if sooner).
Maintenance: Then 4 hours after the first administration give 20 mg
modified release orally 8 hourly for a maximum of 48 hours.
Discontinue: 48 hours after commencement of regime OR if
significant maternal hypotensive reaction occurs causing severe
maternal symptoms, adverse CTG changes or meconium stained
liquor.
Side effects: transient hypotension, flushing, palpitations,
headache.
9
in the third trimester. This is an unlicensed indication and must be a
consultant decision.
7. Maternal Corticosteroids
For women between 23+0 and 23+6 weeks of pregnancy who are in
suspected or established preterm labour, are having a planned preterm
birth or have PPROM discuss with the woman and her family the use of
maternal corticosteroids in the context of her individual circumstances.
10
Corticosteroid regime
Betamethasone 12mg intramuscular, 2 administrations 24 hours
apart.
For women between 23+0 and 23+6 weeks of pregnancy who are in
established preterm labour or having a planned preterm birth within
24 hours, discuss with the woman and her family the use of intravenous
magnesium sulphate for neuroprotection of the baby, in the context of
her individual circumstances.
If the infusion is solely given for neuroprotection of the fetus the infusion
should be discontinued at birth.
11
Magnesium sulphate regime (unlicensed)
Bolus: 4g intravenous bolus over 15 minutes. Ideally given 4 hours
prior to delivery.
Maintenance: intravenous infusion of 1g per hour until the birth or
for 24 hours (whichever is sooner).
Antidote
Calcium gluconate 1g intravenously (10ml of 10% calcium
gluconate in 50ml NaCl 0.9%) given over 10 minutes.
9. In-utero transfer
12
and obstetrician should take place whether in-utero transfer is required
and appropriate.
Penicillin allergy
The antibiotic chosen will depend on the confidence of the diagnosis of
penicillin allergy and the severity of penicillin allergy.
13
If the history suggests that the reaction described is not likely to be
allergic in nature (e.g. vomiting only) then penicillin should be given.
14
Explain the different fetal monitoring options to the woman and her
family, being aware that:
there is limited evidence about the usefulness of specific features
to suggest hypoxia or acidosis in preterm babies
the available evidence is broadly consistent with that for babies
born at term
a normal cardiotocography trace is reassuring and indicates that
the baby is coping well with labour, but an abnormal trace does not
necessarily indicate that fetal hypoxia or acidosis is present.
Explain to the woman and her family that there is an absence of evidence
that using cardiotocography improves the outcomes of preterm labour for
the woman or the baby compared with intermittent auscultation.
Offer women in established preterm labour but with no other risk factors
a choice of fetal heart rate monitoring using either:
cardiotocography using external ultrasound or
intermittent auscultation.
15
Discuss with the woman and her family the possible use of a FSE between
34+0 and 36+6 weeks of pregnancy if it is not possible to monitor the
fetal heart rate using either external cardiotocography or intermittent
auscultation.
Discuss with the woman the possible use of FBS between 34+0 and 36+6
weeks of pregnancy if the benefits are likely to outweigh the potential
risks.
When offering FBS, discuss this with the woman including the risks of
FBS and advise her that if a blood sample cannot be obtained a caesarean
section is likely.
Discuss the general benefits and risks of caesarean section and vaginal
birth with women in suspected, diagnosed or established preterm labour
(and their family).
16
Explain to women in suspected, diagnosed or established preterm labour
that there are no known benefits or harms for the baby from caesarean
section, but the evidence is very limited.
17
Percentage of women with a positive fetal fibronectin test (fFN
>199) before 34 weeks gestation that were offered steroids (100%)
and received steroids (100%).
Percentage of women with a positive fetal fibronectin test (fFN
>199) before 30 weeks gestation that were offered magnesium
sulphate (MgSO4) (100%) and received MgSO4 prior to delivery
(100%).
Percentage of women in confirmed preterm labour that were offered
intrapartum antibiotics (100%) and received these (100%).
18
15. References
19
Appendix 1 Fetal Fibronectin (fFN) Test Proforma
Date:
Addressograph
Test requested by:
Designation:
Only perform fFN test if all of the following criteria are met:
Designation:
Test result sticker
Sign:
Date:
Time:
20
Appendix 2 ALL WALES IN- ADDRESSOGRAPH
UTERO TRANSFER
COMMUNICATION
FORM
21