24 hour rhythm to the onset of preterm labour
Abstract
Objective To describe the time of onset of contractions which result in preterm delivery to investigate if there is a diurnal influence. Design The admission register for the neonatal unit was used to identify admissions for prematurity over a three‐year period. Obstetric case records were then reviewed to obtain the recorded time of onset of contractions when delivery was preceded by spontaneous labour. Setting A maternity hospital in the United Kingdom. Main outcome measures The time of onset of spontaneous contractions which result in preterm labour and delivery. Results Four hundred and twenty‐five women in preterm labour were studied. A significant diurnal rhythm in the timing of onset of contractions was noted with 42% of deliveries occurring in labour which commenced between midnight and 0600 hours. Subgroup analysis indicated that there was a significant rhythm in second trimester preterm labours, male and female babies and that this rhythm was present during both the winter and summer months. Conclusion The periodicity of preterm labour onset demonstrates a rhythm which is similar to the rhythm in the onset of labour at term. Preterm labour most commonly begins between midnight and 0600 hours.
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Prior studies on circadian patterns on the time of the onset of preterm labour provide conflicting results.
“Prior studies on circadian patterns on the time of the onset of preterm labour provide conflicting results.34–36”
From Triggers of Spontaneous Preterm Delivery – Why Today? (2014) · cites this paper as [35]
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- Authors
- Lindow, S. W., Jha, R. R., & Thompson, J. W.
- Affiliations
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital (GB)
- University of Hull (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Lindow, S. W.
- Venue
- BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2000-09
- Volume
- 107
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1145-1148
- ISSN
- 0306-5456 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-0328
- 1471-0528
- OpenAlex
- W1972714980
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- preterm labour, diurnal cycle, circadian rhythm, spontaneous labor, preterm birth
- MeSH terms
- Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Labor Onset, Obstetric Labor, Premature, Male, Pregnancy, Retrospective Studies, Seasons, Time Factors
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