A normal or term pregnancy lasts 37-42 weeks. Preterm labour is any labour that starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Preterm labour may lead to a preterm birth, meaning your baby is born too soon. Your baby will be at increased risk of having potential long term health problems the earlier they are born. Some preterm babies are very small and may not be strong enough to live.
Preterm labour can happen in any pregnancy, even if you are healthy and do all the right things. The reasons why labour sometimes starts too soon are not always known. It is very important for pregnant women to know how to recognize if preterm labour happens to them and what to do if it happens. Some women may be more at risk than others to have a preterm birth. These may be women who:
- Have had a preterm baby before
- Are carrying more than one baby, for example twins
- Are smokers
- Are underweight
- Are not getting enough healthy food
- Have a lot of stress in their life
- Have a vaginal or bladder infection
- Have had several miscarriages
- Do strenuous work.
Some important signs of preterm labour to watch for are:
- A sudden gush or a constant slow leak of fluid from the vagina
- Bleeding from the vagina
- Bad cramps or stomach pains that don’t go away
- Contractions of the uterus or a change in what you normally feel
- Lower back pain/pressure, or a change in lower bachache
- Pelvic pressure (feeling full or heavy “down below”)
- Increase in discharge from the vagina
Some women may just feel that “something is not right”.
*If you experience any of the above signs , GO TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT AWAY.
*If you are unable to go then call the hospital for advice.
Adapted from Preterm Labour, Signs and Symptoms, Best Start , 2005.
18 Mar 2008 10:29:30 -0500
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