Microsoft powerpoint - treatment of preterm labor.ppt

Specific treatment for preterm labor will be determined by your physician based on: your pregnancy, overall health, and medical history; extent of the condition; your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies; expectations for the course of the condition; your opinion or preference. Common Treatments
Common Medications
9Terbutaline: Also known as Brethine. It can be taken as a pill, through
an IV (through a catheter directly into your vein), as an injection, or
9Bedrest (either at home or in the hospital may be
through a controlled infusion pump. A pump is used to give a continuous low dose of the terbutaline. Additional amounts of the medication can be administered if uterine activity increases. A subcutaneous (the medicine is injected under your skin but not directly into a vein) infusion pump may be 9Hospitalization (as specialized personnel and
used with home uterine monitoring. Some of the side effects can include nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, headache, rapid heart rate, nausea, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypokalemia (low blood potassium). 9Tocolytic Medications - medications to help slow or
A rare but serious side effect is pulmonary edema. The baby may also stop contractions. These may be given in an injection or experience a fast heart rate and high or low blood sugar after birth. The mother and baby should be monitored while taking this drug. Your doctor intravenously. Tocolytic medications often used include should be informed if you have shortness of breath or chest pain while taking this medicine, or if the contractions begin again while you are on this medicine.
9Corticosteroid Medications - medications that may
9Ritodrine: It acts in a similar way to terbutaline. You can take it through
help mature the lungs of the fetus. Lung immaturity is a an IV. The side effects are like those of terbutaline. If you have a history of cardiac dysrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms) or cardiac disease, hypertension or thyrotoxicosis (an excess of thyroid hormones), you should 9Cervical Cerclage - a procedure used to suture the
discuss this with your doctor before taking terbutaline or ritodrine.
cervical opening. Cerclage is used for women with an 9Nifedipine: Also called Adalat or Procardia and is taken as a pill. Some
of the side effects that may occur include facial flushing, headache, nausea,
incompetent cervix. This is a condition in which the palpitations, and lightheadedness. No serious newborn side effects have cervix is physically weak and unable to stay closed 9Magnesium sulfate: It can be taken as a pill or through an IV. Side
effects may include feelings of extreme warmth, perspiration, flushing,
9Antibiotics (to treat infection)
nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, lightheadedness, lethargy, nasal stuffiness and constipation. Magnesium sulfate can affect your reflexes and slow your 9Delivery - if treatments do not stop preterm labor or if
breathing. Some women report chest pain, especially if they are taking this the fetus or mother is in danger, delivery of the baby medicine with another of the tocolytics. Women who have myasthenia gravis, a history of renal impairment (kidney problems), heart block, or a may occur. Cesarean delivery may be recommended in history of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) should discuss this with your doctor before using magnesium sulfate. Side effects usually go away within a few days. The fetus may show a decreased baseline heart rate. A newborn who has been exposed to magnesium sulfate may seem drowsy, What will happen if you go to the Hospital
have a weak cry and a decreased sucking rate in the early postpartum period. The mother and fetus should be monitored while on this medication.
You may be told by your doctor to go to the hospital if
they feel you may be experiencing preterm labor. At the 9Indomethacin: Also called Indocin. It can be taken as a pill or as a
suppository (in the rectum). Side effects include abdominal discomfort, hospital, a nurse will take your temperature, pulse and nausea, vomiting, depression and dizzy spells for the mother. Indocin can blood pressure. A fetal monitor may be placed on your also have serious effects on the fetus if used long term or if the gestational abdomen to see if you are having contractions and to age is greater than 32-34 weeks. This drug may also be dangerous for the mother is she has a history of bleeding disorders, aspirin sensitivity, or check your baby's heart rate. If you are in labor, and your doctor feels your pregnancy should be prolonged, 9Betamethasone: This medicine is a steroid used to help the fetal lungs
treatment may include bedrest, I.V. fluids, medications, develop more quickly. It is also called Celestone and is given as an and continued monitoring of your contractions and your injection into muscle tissue. The use of betamethasone can decrease the chance that the baby will have respiratory distress syndrome when born. It baby's heart rate. If it is felt that you are not in labor, or is usually used if preterm delivery is a concern. Sometimes doctors use having any other problems, you may be allowed to go dexamethasone, which is a very similar medicine. Side effects may include sleeplessness and higher blood sugar levels for the mother and decreased fetal movement for the baby.
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Source: http://www.spensershope.org/Educational%20Brochures/Treatment%20of%20Preterm%20Labor.pdf