Magnesium Sulfate for Preterm Labor
Why It Is Used
Magnesium sulfate may be used to stop preterm labor when:
- Labor needs to be delayed for 24 to 48 hours
to:
- Let Reference corticosteroids Opens New Window given to the mother help fetal lungs mature.
- Provide time to move a mother to a hospital that offers neonatal intensive care, if her local hospital does not.
- Regular contractions of the uterus have thinned (effaced) the Reference cervix Opens New Window and opened (dilated) it less than 4 cm, and the mother's Reference amniotic sac Opens New Window has not broken.
- The mother is healthy.
- The fetus is alive and not in distress.
- Another tocolytic medicine has not slowed uterine contractions.
- Treatment with other tocolytic medicines has been stopped because of side effects.
If preterm labor is likely to lead to preterm delivery, magnesium sulfate may be used to reduce the risk of Reference cerebral palsy Opens New Window in the premature newborn.Reference 2More research is needed to find out how well this works.Reference 3
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 10, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference William Gilbert, MD - Maternal and Fetal Medicine |
|
© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
