Home uterine activity monitoring in the care of preterm labor: a review of the evidence

Abstract

Objective: Preterm labor (PTL) that results in cervical change and spontaneous preterm birth requires organized forceful uterine contractions. Home uterine activity monitoring (HUAM) detects increases in activity and facilitates intervention. We sought to summarize randomized trials comparing pregnancy outcomes of women who did and did not receive HUAM.Methods: We worked as part of the AHCPR Evidence Report on the Management of Preterm Labor and restricted our search to randomized trials of HUAM among women who had experienced PTL in the pregnancy for which they were receiving monitoring. With ACOG and an advisory group, we developed search criteria. We did an exhaustive literature search, including the gray literature, for articles in English from 1980 to 1998. The initial search identified 37 studies; after review (masked to author and journal), 4 studies met inclusion criteria.Results: This is a systematic review of HUAM for the care of women with a history of PTL in the current pregnancy. We will report the results examining the outcomes of gestational age at delivery, infant birth weight, and term birth.Conclusions: We will present the conclusions and recommendations of the project team.