Can oxytocin be used for premature birth?

Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
Updated on January 15, 2025
00:00
00:00

Under normal circumstances, babies born between 28 and 37 weeks of gestation are referred to as premature infants. Persistent and regular abdominal pain, accompanied by dilation of the cervix, usually suggests preterm labor and a likely onset of labor, necessitating timely medical attention for appropriate examination and treatment. Normally, during the process of preterm labor, if there is insufficient uterine contraction or other abnormal conditions, it might be appropriate to use oxytocin to induce labor. If the mother has no other complications, vaginal delivery is still the primary method of delivery to reduce conditions such as fetal hypoxia in the uterus.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
46sec home-news-image

Do contractions easily lead to premature birth?

There are two types of contractions. The first type is false labor contractions, which occur in the late stages of pregnancy. They generally happen more in the evening or afternoon and disappear in the morning. The true labor contractions are regular and intensify in waves, accompanied by an increase in vaginal discharge or spotting. If it's false labor, rest can usually improve the condition, and it's not a concern. However, some people, due to extreme anxiety, may experience frequent false labor contractions. In such cases, our general approach is still to recommend treatment for pregnancy maintenance. If it's true labor, there is definitely a possibility of premature birth.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
39sec home-news-image

Signs of premature birth

Generally, babies born between 28 and 37 weeks of gestation are considered premature. Normally, premature babies have underdeveloped organ systems, which makes them prone to serious abnormalities in various organs after birth. This can lead to conditions such as respiratory distress syndrome or cerebral palsy. Signs of premature labor typically include sudden regular abdominal pain without any other abnormalities, accompanied by clear uterine contractions and a feeling of abdominal heaviness, with a persistent, notable dilation of the cervix.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
50sec home-news-image

Do frequent Braxton Hicks contractions lead to preterm labor?

In the late stages of pregnancy, there may be occurrences of Braxton Hicks contractions, generally happening at a low frequency of about two to three times per day. Some individuals experience these false contractions primarily at night, which disappear during the day. This is considered normal physiological behavior in the late stages of pregnancy. If there is a frequent occurrence of Braxton Hicks contractions, it may also lead to the dilation of the cervix, causing premature labor. Therefore, if this situation arises and the fetus is not yet full-term, it is recommended to go to the hospital for an examination in a timely manner, and symptomatic treatment to maintain the pregnancy may be necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
49sec home-news-image

How many weeks early can a premature baby survive?

Preterm birth refers to births that occur after 28 weeks of pregnancy but before 37 weeks. Preterm infants have lower resistance compared to full-term infants and generally require special care to survive. The survival rate varies with the gestational age: at 32 to 33 weeks, the survival rate can reach 95%; at 28 to 31 weeks, it is between 90% and 95%; at 26 weeks, it is around 80%; and at 27 weeks, it is about 90%. After 34 weeks of pregnancy, the survival rate of the baby is very high, almost the same as that of a full-term baby.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
52sec home-news-image

Does premature birth affect intelligence?

Premature birth generally does not affect a baby's intellectual development, as the brain is mostly well-developed by the time of premature birth, and intelligence is not greatly affected. With appropriate nutrition post-birth, the intelligence of premature babies can generally recover to that of average children. However, if the baby experiences intrauterine hypoxia during premature birth, this can affect the brain cells and may even lead to cerebral palsy. Therefore, it is important to closely monitor the baby's diet and neurological responsiveness if premature birth occurs. If there are concerns, a hospital check-up can be conducted to promptly identify any issues with the child.