title: Preterm uterine contractions ultimately delivered at term: safe but not out of danger.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with pregnancies complicated with premature uterine contractions (PMC), but delivered at term are considered as false preterm labor (PTL), and represent a common obstetric complication. We aimed to assess obstetric and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated with PMC, but delivered at term, as compared to term normal pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obstetric, maternal and neonatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies complicated with PMC between 24-33(6)/7 weeks (PMC group), necessitating hospitalization and treatment with tocolytics and/or steroids, during 2009-2014, were reviewed. The study group included only cases who eventually delivered ≥37 weeks, which were compared to a control group of subsequent term singleton deliveries who had not experienced PMC during pregnancy. Neonatal adverse composite outcome included: phototherapy, RDS, sepsis, blood transfusion, cerebral injury, NICU admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PMC group (n=497) was characterized by higher rates of nulliparity (p=0.002), infertility treatments (p=0.02), and polyhydramnios (p<0.001), as compared to controls (n=497). Labor was characterized by higher rates of instrumental deliveries (p=0.03), non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracings (p<0.001) prolonged third stage of labor (p=0.04), and increased rate of post-partum maternal anemia (Hb<8g/dL) p=0.004, in the PMC group as compared to controls. Neonates in the PMC groups had lower birth weights compared to controls, 3149g±429 vs. 3318g±1.1, p<0.001, respectively. By logistic regression analysis, PMC during pregnancy was independently associated with neonatal birth-weight <3rd percentile (adjusted OR 4.6, 95% CI 1.5-13.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnancies complicated with PMC, even-though delivered at term, entail adverse obstetric and neonatal outcomes, and may warrant continued high risk follow up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: hadassganer@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hadas
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ganer Herman
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: dasile2@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hadas
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miremberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: ann2003s@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dekalo
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: jiulibarda@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barda
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: jbar@wolfson.health.gov.il.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Affiliated with Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: michalkovo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kovo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047929:Term Birth / Q000502:physiology*; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015149:Tocolytic Agents
keywords: Preterm uterine contractions; Small for gestational age; Term