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Preterm labor happens when regular contractions cause the cervix to open after week 20 and before week 37 of pregnancy.
Preterm labor can result in a baby being born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The earlier the delivery, the greater the health risks for the baby. Many premature babies, called preemies, need special care in a neonatal intensive care unit. Preemies also can have long-term mental and physical health concerns.
The cause of preterm labor often isn't clear. Certain risk factors can raise the chance of preterm labor. But preterm labor can happen with no known risk factors.
Symptoms of preterm labor include:
If you have symptoms of preterm labor or you're worried about how you feel, contact your healthcare professional right away. Your healthcare professional can find out if you're in preterm labor or rule it out. Ruling it out could ease your mind.
Preterm labor can affect any pregnancy. But many factors can raise the risk of preterm labor. They include the following.
Complications of preterm labor include having a premature baby. A baby who is born too early can have health issues. These may include low birth weight, trouble breathing, organs that are not fully formed, and trouble seeing and hearing.
Children who are born too early also have a higher risk of cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and behavioral problems. And preterm birth can be fatal for the baby.
You might not be able to prevent preterm labor. But you can do things to support a healthy, full-term pregnancy. For example:
If you have a history of preterm labor or premature birth, you're at risk of preterm labor in later pregnancies. Work with your healthcare team to manage risk factors and respond to early symptoms of preterm labor.
Your healthcare professional reviews your medical history, your risk factors for preterm labor and your symptoms. If you have regular uterine contractions and your cervix starts to soften, thin and open, called dilate, before 37 weeks of pregnancy, you likely are in preterm labor.
Tests and procedures to diagnose preterm labor include:
If you're at risk of preterm labor, your healthcare team may suggest ways to keep labor from starting too soon.
During a procedure called cervical cerclage, the cervix is stitched closed with strong sutures. Most often, a member of your healthcare team removes the sutures after 36 weeks of pregnancy. If needed, the sutures can be removed earlier.
Cervical cerclage may be used for people who are less than 24 weeks pregnant, who have a history of early premature birth, and who have a cervix that is opening or a cervical length that is less than 25 millimeters, called a short cervix.
For a short cervix diagnosed before 24 weeks of pregnancy, progesterone that goes into the vagina might lower the risk of preterm birth.
No medicines or surgeries can stop labor, except briefly. But your healthcare team might suggest the following medicines:
Tocolytics. These medicines can slow contractions for a while. Tocolytics can delay preterm labor for 48 hours. This delay can give corticosteroids time to work. Or, if needed, the delay gives you time to get to a hospital that can treat premature babies.
Tocolytics don't treat the cause of preterm labor. And they don't improve the outcomes for babies. You won't get a tocolytic if you have certain conditions, such as pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, called preeclampsia.
If you're at risk of preterm labor and you're not in a hospital, you might need to see your healthcare team weekly or more often. This is so your team can watch for symptoms of preterm labor.
Preterm contractions might be Braxton Hicks contractions. These are common. They don't mean that your cervix has started to open. If you feel contractions, try walking, resting or changing positions. This might stop Braxton Hicks contractions. If you're in true preterm labor, the contractions keep going.
Bed rest to manage preterm labor has not been shown to lower the risk of preterm birth. Bed rest can lead to blood clots, emotional distress and muscle weakness.
If you're at risk of preterm labor or premature birth, you might worry during your pregnancy. You might worry more if you have a history of preterm labor or premature birth. Talk with your healthcare team about ways to relax and stay calm.
If you have symptoms of preterm labor, contact your healthcare professional right away. You might need medical care right away.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
Before your appointment, you might want to:
Some basic questions to ask your healthcare team include:
Be sure to ask all the questions you have.
Be ready to answer questions such as:
Preterm labor puts your baby at risk. Work with your healthcare team to improve your chance of a healthy outcome.