Premature labor can be scary if you are a pregnant woman. But, as always, the more you know, the more you can stay away from worry. Preterm labor happens in about 12% of all pregnancies so it’s important to understand what it is, what the risk factors are, what the symptoms are, and what to do if you experience any symptoms.

Personal Story

I’ve been there. I’ve had premature labor for the births of two of my children. It is important to understand that other people go through premature labor with positive outcomes. I came four weeks early and was a premature child, so I know that children can live and thrive despite being premature.

Definition of Premature Labor

So, what is premature labor? Human babies usually take between 40 and 42 weeks to be ready to be born. Most women begin “laboring” to bring her baby into the world at around 40 weeks, her “due date”.  Pre-term labor is the presence of contractions that are sufficiently hard and intense enough to cause the dilation of the pregnant woman’s cervix before her “due date.” Preterm labor takes place between 20 and 37 weeks of gestation. Premature labor happens in approximately 12% of all pregnancies.

Causes of Premature Labor

The causes of premature labor are unknown. Some women have it for no known reason, but some of the following conditions are risk factors:

• working long hours with long periods of standing
• high levels of stress
• low income
• uterine or cervical abnormalities
• previous premature birth
• pregnant with multiples
• infections, such as bladder, kidney, urinary tract, vaginal, or sexually transmitted
• infection with a high fever during pregnancy
• vaginal bleeding that’s not explainable after 20 weeks of pregnancy
• chronic illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or kidney disease
• multiple abortions during first or second trimester
• clotting disorders such as thrombophilia
• being overweight or underweight before pregnancy
• less than six to nine months between a birth and the beginning of another pregnancy
• smoking, drinking alcohol, or illicit drugs
• domestic violence

Note: These risk factors do not mean that you will experience a premature labor, just that they can sometimes be a contributing factor.

Symptoms of Premature Labor

Becoming aware of the symptoms of premature labor and calling your health care provider if you see symptoms can prevent you from having a premature birth.

• increase or change in your vaginal discharge
• watery fluid leaking from your vagina could indicate your water breaking
• menstrual like cramps in the lower abdomen
• abdominal cramps that occur with or without diarrhea
• five or more uterine contractions in an hour
• a low back ache felt below the waistline
• pelvic pressure that feels like your baby is pushing down

One or more of the above symptoms are not a definite indication that you are having premature labor.

Experiencing Symptoms of Premature Labor

Call your health care provider immediately if you are experiencing symptoms of premature labor. While you are waiting for a call back, you can do these things:

• empty your bladder
• lie down on your left side
• do not lie flat on your back
• drink several glasses of water because dehydration can initiate contractions
• monitor contractions for one hour. Count minutes from the starting of 1 contraction to the start of the next.

If symptoms don’t recede after one hour or if they get worse, call your health care provider again or go straight to the hospital. Be sure to let the staff that you might have begun premature labor.

Action

Premature labor does not always end in premature birth. Medical professionals can sometimes help the labor to slow or stop. The longer your baby is in your womb, the greater the chance he or she will be healthy. Knowing the above details can help prevent premature births.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. Have you had premature labor?