What happens when I come to the preterm birth clinic?

While under the care of the preterm birth team you can expect:

• An initial telephone appointment with the preterm birth midwife at around 12 weeks. This is to discuss your risk of preterm birth and explain more about being seen in the preterm birth clinic.
  
  
• You will usually be seen in the preterm birth clinic every two weeks between 16 and 24 weeks of your pregnancy. One of our preterm birth clinic consultants will see you, and there may also be another doctor present. The preterm birth midwife will be available to speak to. If you have been referred because you have previously had a caesarean section at full dilatation, then you will usually only need to be seen twice, at 18 and 22 weeks.
  
  
• We will check that there has been a urine specimen sent at your booking appointment and that the result of this is negative. If there was any bacteria present in your urine, we will make sure you have had treatment for this and that another urine specimen is sent to check the treatment has worked.
  
  
• At the first appointment we will offer for you to have vaginal swabs for some bacteria which have been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth. These include bacterial vaginosis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
  
  
• At each clinic appointment we will perform a transvaginal ultrasound scan to assess the length of your cervix. If your cervix is found to be less than 25mm at any of your scans, then we would discuss potential treatment options with you.
  
  
• If the length of your cervix is stable and above 25mm at your final appointment, you will be discharged back to the care of your community midwife and relevant consultant team if required. If you have received any treatment, the preterm birth team will continue to look after you until your baby is born.