Answer:
<u>A. The cervix is effacing and dilated to 2 cm.</u>
Explanation:
<u>PRETERM LABOUR:</u>
<u>DEFINITION:</u>
Preterm labor is defined as labor or delivery that occurs before 37 weeks of gestation.
<u>DIAGNOSIS</u>
A pregnant patient is said to be undergoing preterm labor if:
- Regular Uterine contractions ( at least 1 in 10 minutes).
- Dilation of cervix up to 2 cm or greater and effacement of cervix up to 80%
- Patient experiences pelvic pressure, backache, vaginal discharge or bleeding
- Cervix is shortened up to less than 2.5 cm with funneling of internal os when examined by Transvaginal Ultrasound
Fetal Fibronectin is a glycoprotein that if found in vaginal secretion between 24 and 34 weeks of gestation is an <u>excellent predictor</u> of preterm labor and indicates that the patient is at high risk of undergoing of preterm labor.
Similarly, increased levels of maternal salivary estriol is a predictor of preterm labor.
Coming back to the answer choices,
<u>A. The cervix is effacing and dilated to 2 cm.</u>
This is the correct answer choice as effacement of cervix and dilation of cervix upto 2cm or greater is a diagnostic feature of preterm labor.
<u> B. Irregular, mild uterine contractions are occurring every 12 to 15 minutes.</u>
<u>Regular uterine contractions at least 1 in 10 minutes is diagnostic of preterm labor.</u> Therefore this is the incorrect answer choice. However, Uterine contractions equal to or greater than <u>4 per hour is a good predictor</u> that patient will undergo preterm labor.
<u>C. Fetal fibronectin is present in vaginal secretions. </u>
Presence of fetal fibronectin in vaginal secretions is an <u>excellent predictor</u> of preterm labor. Therefore, this answer choice is inappropriate.
<u> D. Estriol is not found in maternal saliva.</u>
<u>Elevated maternal salivary estriol is a predictor of preterm delivery. </u>Therefore, this answer choice is also incorrect.
