Preterm Labour: Tsunami Waves?

Summary Preterm labour and birth can be delayed but are generally unstoppable, threatening the health of the mother–baby duo. This may be a result of peripheral signals prematurely recruiting the oxytocin neurones that co‐ordinate the timing of birth and, via specialised activity and secretion patterns, drive uterine contractions. Once sensitised, these neurones respond with waves of activity, even to weak stimuli, resulting in a positive‐feedback loop that escalates towards inevitable birth.