title: Medically indicated--iatrogenic prematurity.
abstract: Premature delivery of an infant is occasionally performed because of complications of pregnancy. This article reviews common medical indications for preterm delivery and the available evidence supporting delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. In many conditions, few data exist to guide optimal timing of delivery and management is guided by expert opinion. Ultimately, an individual assessment must be made in each case to weigh the risks that pregnancy continuation poses to the mother and/or fetus with the risks of prematurity and its associated morbidities.
authors: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Wong
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Grobman
mesh_terms: D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology