Treating Premature Birth

Depending on how premature the delivery is, the doctor will talk to you about the risks associated with proceeding with the labor. If the fetus has developed enough to be able to live successfully outside of the uterus, the doctor will proceed with the labor. If it is too early and too risky to deliver, the doctor will try to stop the labor. Stopping labor is not simple. Often, the medications are not effective in preventing a preterm birth.

Sometimes when there is a risk of preterm deliver, the doctor will suggest giving a steroid medication to the mother. The medication can reach the fetus and cause maturation of the surfactant (a substance which prevents lung collapse) in the lungs.