Summary
The practical management of premature labour is described, illustrated by ten cases. All the patients were treated with β-sympathomimetic infusion, either salbutamol (0.4–1.6 mg/h) or ritodrine hydrochloride (2–6 mg/h), to stop uterine contractions, and with intramuscular dexamethasone 4 mg eight hourly to accelerate foetal lung maturity. Satisfactory control of blood glucose was achieved (range 2–10 mmol/l) by using high rates of insulin infusion (range 8–32 units per hour). Delivery was postponed in eight cases and seven healthy babies were born. There were three foetal deaths from multiple congenital abnormalities. β-sympathomimetic infusion caused few maternal side-effects and there were no foetal problems. Maternal plasma potassium decreased in all cases studied, the mean fall being from 4.5 mmol/l to 2.7 mmol/l.
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Barnett, A.H., Stubbs, S.M. & Mander, A.M. Management of premature labour in diabetic pregnancy. Diabetologia 18, 365–368 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276815
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00276815