Research has suggested that preterm birth clinic attendance among women who were at high risk for preterm birth results in a lower risk of infant morbidity.
Due to be presented at Society for Maternal-Foetal Medicine's annual meeting, the study found that women who attended the clinic were more likely to deliver full-term babies.
Furthermore, there were fewer cases of infant morbidity and disability among this group.
Tracy Manuck, one of the study's authors, commented: "The study showed that participants in the preterm birth prevention clinic had a 28 percent reduction in the risk of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth, as well as reductions in infant complications and short term disabilities.
"These are significant improvements and should lead more medical facilities to think about creating similar programs."
Referral to a clinic involved counselling, close surveillance and management recommendations.
These measures resulted in an average of a one week longer
pregnancy.
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Private maternity news : 15 February 2011
