Singapore updates preterm birth guidelines, shifts focus to early risk detection

Singapore's preterm birth rate has remained at 8.5%.

KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) and the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (COGS) launched the first comprehensive update to Singapore's Guidelines on the Management of Preterm Birth.

The revised Guidelines standardise how preterm birth is screened, prevented and managed across Singapore with a clear shift to proactive, early intervention.

Singapore's preterm birth rate has remained at 8.5%, higher than that of developed Asian peers, including Hong Kong and China, translating to close to 3,000 premature babies.

Healthcare professionals are now recommended to conduct formal screening at the first prenatal visit, with reassessments at 11 to 13 weeks, 18 to 22 weeks, and 24 weeks.

Cervical length screening has also been introduced during second-trimester checkups at 18 to 22 weeks. Women with a cervical length of 25mm or below may be offered progesterone therapy to help sustain the pregnancy.

Moreover, oral nifedipine now replaces intravenous beta-agonists as the first-line intervention for stopping or slowing preterm labour contractions.

On fetal protection, magnesium sulphate has been elevated to a standard treatment recommendation for women at risk of delivering between 24 and 32 weeks.