Regarding neonatal outcome, there was a significant difference
in the birth weights between the two groups ( p 0.000).
The mean birth weight in the nifedipine group was 1,806.67 g
and 2,506.12 g in progesterone group. Statistically, there was a
significant difference in the Apgar scores at 1 min and 5 min
between the two groups ( p 0.000). A total of 6% of the babies
in the nifedipine group had an average Apgar score of 8, while
48% of the babies in the progesterone group had an average
Apgar score of 8 at 1 min. Of the babies in the nifedipine group,
4% had an average Apgar score of 9 at 5 min compared with
49% of the babies in the progesterone group. Of the babies in the
nifedipine group, 21.6% required mechanical ventilation compared
with only 10.2% of the babies in the progesterone group,
but this was not statistically signifi cant ( p 0.121). A total of
43% of the babies in the nifedipine group and 20% of the babies
in the progesterone group had one or more of the morbidities
associated with prematurity. There was a significant difference
in the morbidity of babies between the two groups ( p 0.015)