American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 4 , Pages 404.e1-404.e4 , October 2009

Late preterm birth: how often is it avoidable?

Presented in part at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, San Diego, CA, Jan. 26-31, 2009.

  • Marium G. Holland, MD, MPH

      Affiliations

    • Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
  • ,
  • Jerrie S. Refuerzo, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
  • ,
  • Susan M. Ramin, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX
  • ,
  • George R. Saade, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
  • ,
  • Sean C. Blackwell, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX

Received 27 February 2009 ,Revised 31 May 2009 ,Accepted 30 June 2009.

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 Reprints not available from the authors.

 Cite this article as: Holland MG, Refuerzo JS, Ramin SM, et al. Late preterm birth: how often is it avoidable? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:404.e1-4.

PII: S0002-9378(09)00761-3

doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.06.066

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 201, Issue 4 , Pages 404.e1-404.e4 , October 2009