Abstract

In Britain preterm delivery accounts for 85% of the neonatal deaths not associated with fetal abnormality,¹ and it is assumed that this wastage would be reduced if preterm labour were arrested and the fetus allowed to mature normally in utero. Failing this even a short delay would allow for a corticosteroid given to the mother to induce maturation of the fetal lungs,^{2 3} or for the transfer of the mother to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit. Although a reduction in perinatal mortality and morbidity has yet to established⁴ it is standard to attempt to arrest preterm labour and the drugs used for this include β-adrenoceptor stimulants,^{5 6} ethanol and prostaglandin-synthetase inhibitors.