Introduction: Preterm delivery is the delivery before 37 weeks of gestation are completed. Preterm birth is a major course of neonatal morbidity and mortality, the incidence of premature delivery in developed countries is 5 to 9%. Aims of this study were to determine the common etiological factors for preterm delivery, most common weeks of gestation for pretern delivery, and most commom way of delivery for preterm delivery. Methods:The study included 600 patients divided into two groups, experimental group (included 300 preterm delivered pregnant women), control group (included 300 term delivered women). Results:The incidence of preterm delivery in pregnant women younger than 18 years was 4.4%, and in pregnant women older than 35 years was 14%. 44.6 % of preterm delivered women at the experimental group had lower education. In the experimental group burdened obstetrical history had 29%, 17.2% had a preterm delivery, 35.6% had a premature rupture of membranes, 15% had a preterm delivery before 32 weeks of gestation, 12.4% between 32-33.6 weeks of gestation, while 72.6% of deliveries were between 34-36.6 weeks of gestation. Multiple pregnancy as an etiological factor was present in 10.07% of cases. Extragenital diseases were present in 10.4%. In the experimental group there were 29%, while in the control group there were 15% subjects with burdened obstetrical history. Conclusions:Preterm birth more often occurs in a pregnant women younger than 18 and older than 35 years, and in a pregnant women of lower educational degree. Preterm delivery in the most common cases was fi nished in period from 34 to 36.6 weeks of gestation. The most common etiological factor of preterm delivery in the experimental group was preterm rupture of membranes and idiopathic preterm delivery.

Introduction: Preterm delivery is the delivery before 37 weeks of gestation are completed. The incidence of preterm birth ranges from 5 to 15%. Aims of the study were to determine the average body weight, Apgar score after one and five minutes, and the frequency of the most common complications in preterminfants.Methods: The study involved a total of 631 newborns, of whom 331 were born prematurely Aims of this study were to (24th-37th gestational weeks-experimental group), while 300 infants were born in time (37-42 weeks of gestation-control group).Results: Average body weight of prematurely born infants was 2382 grams, while the average Apgar score in this group after the fi rst minute was 7.32 and 7.79 after the fifth minute. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome was 50%, intracranial hemorrhage, 28.1% and 4.8% of sepsis. Respiratory distresssyndrome was more common in infants born before 32 weeks of gestation. Mortality of premature infants is present in 9.1% and is higher than that of infants born at term.Conclusions: Birth body weight and Apgar scores was lower in preterm infants. Respiratory distress syndrome is the most common fetal complication of prematurity. Intracranial hemorrhage is the second most common complication of prematurity. Mortality of premature infants is higher than the mortality of infants born at term birth.

Introduction: Doppler analysis of the feto-placental and fetal circulation give dynamic information on the condition of the bloodstream during pregnancy, and early detection of fetal hypoxia. The objectives of the study were: testing whether there is influence of smoking on feto-placental circulation; determining whether there is a link to a number of smoked cigarettes during the day; assessing the benefits of Doppler ultrasonographic screening in detection of fetal hypoxia in pregnant women who smoke during pregnancy.Methods: 300 pregnancies were included in the prospective research. With regard to a number of smoked cigarettes the pregnant women were divided into three groups: I. the first group (moderate smokers) consisted of 100 pregnant women who smoked up to 15 cigarettes a day during pregnancy; II. the second group (heavy smokers) 100 pregnant women who smoked more than 15 cigarettes a day during pregnancy and III. the third group (control group) 100 pregnant women who did not smoke during pregnancy. All pregnant women underwent Doppler measurements of blood circulation (determination of resistance index – RI) in the umbilical artery, fetal aorta and middle cerebral artery.Results: The intensity of smoking has influence to circulation because RI in the umbilical artery and fetal aorta is increased and RI is decreased in the middle cerebral artery in pregnant women heavy smokers in comparison to pregnant women moderate smokers.Conclusion: Doppler sonography of the blood vessels could have an important role in detection of hypoxia and monitoring of the condition of the fetus of pregnant women who smoked during pregnancy.