Can oxytocin be used for premature birth?

Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
Updated on January 15, 2025
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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.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
1min 7sec home-news-image

Is excessive amniotic fluid likely to cause premature birth?

Polyhydramnios is relatively common during pregnancy and can have a certain impact on the fetus. There are many reasons that can cause polyhydramnios, but regardless of the cause, polyhydramnios tends to lead to preterm birth. When there is an excessive amount of amniotic fluid, it puts significant pressure on the amniotic sac, which can easily lead to premature rupture of membranes. Premature rupture of membranes itself can stimulate the cervix, release inflammatory mediators, thereby causing contractions and symptoms of preterm labor. After the membranes rupture prematurely, infection within the uterine cavity is likely to occur, generally meaning that the possibility of keeping the pregnancy going for a long duration is unlikely. Therefore, polyhydramnios is associated with a higher risk of preterm labor. In clinical practice, if excessive amniotic fluid is detected during prenatal check-ups, it is advised to control the diet, engage in appropriate physical activities, or use other methods to keep the amniotic fluid level within the normal range.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
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Is it normal for a premature baby to weigh more than five jin?

If the newborn is currently premature and weighs a bit over five jin (approximately 2.5 kilograms), it is generally considered within the normal range. Typically, if a newborn weighs more than 2500 grams, it is considered a full-term birth weight and there are no abnormalities. Therefore, if the newborn's weight is within the normal range after birth and there are no abnormalities in the development of the organs, it is possible to observe temporarily without the need for an incubator. It is also crucial to closely monitor the various vital signs of the newborn and pay attention to normal feeding and care.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Premature birth is how many months?

Preterm birth refers to a newborn born between 28 and less than 38 weeks of pregnancy. Moreover, at this time, the heart size is generally more than 1000 grams. There are many reasons for this occurrence, most of which are related to intrauterine infection in pregnant women, such as patients with premature rupture of membranes or chorioamnionitis are prone to preterm birth. Additionally, if there has been a previous pregnancy, abortion, with a short interval between them, or if an ultrasound detects that the cervical length is less than 25 millimeters, there is also an increased likelihood of preterm birth.

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Written by Liu Wei Jie
Obstetrics
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What is the earliest gestational week that a premature baby can survive?

Preterm infants, how many weeks can survive, first let's talk about the concept of preterm birth. The concept of preterm birth is more than 28 weeks but less than 37 weeks, this is called premature birth. However, with the improvement of neonatal resuscitation technology, in China, if it’s after 26 weeks, the vast majority of newborns can also survive. But after survival, the cost is quite high. For instance, if it's in a top-tier hospital, the cost for newborns born between 26 and 28 weeks can be around several hundred thousand yuan. So, even after some medical insurance policy reimbursements, you would still have to spend around tens of thousands of yuan on your own.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Preterm birth refers to how many weeks?

Premature birth refers to a baby born after the pregnancy has reached 28 weeks but before completing 37 weeks. Most of these babies weigh less than 2500 grams at birth and have poorer adaptive abilities compared to full-term babies. They require special care. Feeding premature infants can be challenging. They generally need to be fed breast milk or formula every two to four hours. Start by feeding once or twice; if there is no vomiting for six to eight hours, continue feeding some milk. Also, position the baby's head to one side to prevent inhalation of vomit.