Population is mothers between the ages of 18 and 34 years of age with a single intrauterine pregnancy between 37 weeks and 41 weeks gestational age.

(Both very young mothers and women 35 and older have increased risk of premature delivery.) The patients will have an admission diagnosis of either active labor or spontaneous rupture of membranes. Active labor is defined as uterine contractions resulting in changes either in the cervical dilatation, the effacement of the cervix and/or descent of the fetal head in the pelvis.

Inclusion Criteria: Our study population will consist of women between the ages of 18 and 34 who delivered a single, viable, term infant at OSU Medical Center between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2006. Gestational age must be greater than 37 weeks and less than 41 weeks, as ascertained by certain last menstrual period and/or first trimester ultrasound. The chart must include a diagnosis of active labor or spontaneous rupture of membranes, and the patient must have had at least two third-trimester prenatal checkups at OSU Houston Center OB/GYN, including one during the last two weeks of gestation. We will define a term infant as 37 weeks gestation or greater (3). Our study population will consist of mainly Medicaid patients.

The ethnic blend of our study population will include Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, American Indian, and Asian women.

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Exclusion Criteria: We will exclude women with multiple gestation, because they are at risk of preterm labor. We will also exclude anyone else who had preterm delivery. In addition, we will exclude women with a diagnosis of liver disease, including intrahepatic cholestasis and hepatitis, chronic hypertension, intraamniotic infection, preeclampsia or its variant, HELLP syndrome, cholelithiasis, inadequate prenatal care, preterm labor, or induction of labor (other than due to premature rupture of membranes).

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