Nurture :: cervical characteristics may predict preterm labour

Cervical characteristics may predict preterm labour

Babies born before 37 weeks gestation often suffer from respiratory problems because their heart and lungs are not fully developed. Learning, hearing and vision problems are more common, and mental or physical handicaps may develop as premature babies grow older. Identifying women at risk of preterm delivery is vital, to prevent or delay the onset of preterm labour.

Professor Peter Stone is conducting a study to determine whether cervical characteristics can predict preterm labour. Using 3D Ultrasound and computerized soft tissue analysis, the density of cervical tissue of pregnant women is being examined in detail at 20 weeks of pregnancy. This will enable the cervical characteristics of women who subsequently delivered prematurely to be catalogued. Ultrasound guidelines could then be developed to help identify women at risk of preterm delivery.

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preventing late pregnancy complications suppressing prelabour contractions understanding the causes of stillbirth investigating the causes of preeclampsia improving antenatal genetic diagnosis pre-term birth and risk of later diabetes analysis of amniotic fluid to predict preterm labour cervical characteristics may predict preterm labour understanding the causes of perinatal and maternal deaths preventing respiratory distress syndrome in preterm babies