Neonatal morbidity between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the risk of significant neonatal morbidity in women with preterm labor who deliver between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation. A total of 101 women between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation with documented preterm labor met inclusion and exclusion criteria; 90 gave informed consent and were randomly assigned to receive either intravenous magnesium tocolysis (treatment group) or conservative management with hydration, sedation, and observation (control group). Of the 90 women entering the study (45 in the treatment group and 45 in the control group), 2 discontinued tocolytic therapy because of gastrointestinal side effects. The gestational age on admission, cervical dilatation at diagnosis of preterm labor, interval to delivery, and birth weight were not significantly different between the treatment and control groups. There were no serious neonatal complications. In each group, three women had transient tachypnea and one had respiratory distress syndrome. We conclude that neonatal morbidity after delivery between 34 and 37 weeks' gestation is unchanged whether or not attempts to arrest labor are unsuccessful. The extra expense and maternal risk of tocolysis are not justified by beneficial results in the infant.