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24 hour rhythm to the onset of preterm labour
S W Lindow1, R R Jha, J W Thompson
1Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hull Maternity Hospital, UK.
Unlabelled:
OBJECTIVE To describe the time of onset of contractions which result in preterm delivery to investigate if there is a diurnal influence.
Design:
The admission register for the neonatal unit was used to identify admissions for prematurity over a three-year period. Obstetric case records were then reviewed to obtain the recorded time of onset of contractions when delivery was preceded by spontaneous labour.
Setting:
A maternity hospital in the United Kingdom.
Main Outcome Measures:
The time of onset of spontaneous contractions which result in preterm labour and delivery.
Results:
Four hundred and twenty-five women in preterm labour were studied. A significant diurnal rhythm in the timing of onset of contractions was noted with 42% of deliveries occurring in labour which commenced between midnight and 0600 hours. Subgroup analysis indicated that there was a significant rhythm in second trimester preterm labours, male and female babies and that this rhythm was present during both the winter and summer months.
Conclusion:
The periodicity of preterm labour onset demonstrates a rhythm which is similar to the rhythm in the onset of labour at term. Preterm labour most commonly begins between midnight and 0600 hours.