Hospitals should take steps to delay premature birth if possible, according to proposed new guidelines published yesterday.
The guidelines are being published because of the risks that face children if they are born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said there are "numerous health risks" linked to prematurity. Some 60,000 babies a year are born prematurely.
Techniques to delay labour include the cervical stitch and the hormone progesterone, given as a suppository.
The guidance also sets out when it is safe to cut a premature baby’s umbilical cord.
NICE has also issued draft guidance on the care of the infant chest infection, bronchiolitis.
Christine Carson, from NICE, said: “Despite medical advances, rates of premature birth have remained constant over the last ten years. An early labour – one that occurs before the pregnancy reaches 37 weeks – can pose numerous health risks to the baby, and these risks increase the earlier that child is born.
“Although more premature babies are surviving, rates of disability among these children remain largely unchanged. The way to tackle this is to provide consistent and high-quality care to prevent early labour, which is what our draft guideline outlines.
"Reducing the numbers of babies born early will go a long way towards giving infants the best possible start in life.”
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said it would be submitting the latest scientific evidence on delaying premature labour.
Dr Manish Gupta, from the college, said: “It is our role as care providers to ensure that women and their babies receive the best possible care and we are committed to tackling premature birth.”
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