Tocolytic Drugs for Women in Preterm Labour

Preterm birth is the most important single determinant of adverse infant outcome, in terms of both survival and quality of life. Although preterm birth is defined as being before 37 completed weeks, most mortality and morbidity is experienced by babies born before 34 weeks. Prevention and treatment of preterm labour is important, not as an end in itself, but as a means of reducing adverse events for the child. For many women in preterm labour it may not be appropriate to consider attempting tocolysis. Labour may be too advanced, for example, or prolonging the pregnancy may be hazardous because of intrauterine infection or placental abruption. As it is the woman who receives the intervention, there is also a responsibility to ensure that she is not harmed.