shared decision making: during labor & delivery
What is pre-term labor?
If you think you are in preterm labor, call your care team right away.
What is Preterm Labor?
A full-term pregnancy is 40 weeks long. If you go into labor before 37 weeks, that is called premature or preterm labor. Preterm labor is marked by regular contractions that cause your cervix to open. The only way to know if you cervix is open is for your care team to do an exam. Preterm labor does not always lead to preterm delivery. There are several things your care team can do to try and stop it, and sometimes it stops on its own.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Some of the risk factors for preterm labor are:
● Previous premature birth
● Pregnant with multiple babies
● Getting pregnant using in vitro fertilization
● Problems with the uterus, cervix or placenta
● Smoking cigarettes or using illegal drugs
● Poor nutrition
● Not gaining enough weight during pregnancy or gaining too much
● Some medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes
● Physical injury or trauma
There are other risk factors but premature labor can happen to anyone. Many women who experience preterm labor have no risk factors at all.
What Are The Symptoms?
If you have any of these symptoms of preterm labor, contact your care team right away. Although some of these symptoms can be normal and very common in pregnancy, it is always better to let your care team know:
● Contractions that come and go every five minutes for at least one hour, with or without pain
● Cramps that may feel like menstrual cramps
● Pressure on vagina or rectum
● Increased vaginal discharge
● Ache in lower back
● Bleeding of any kind
● Leaking or gushing fluid
● Increased bowel movements or diarrhea
● Decrease in baby’s activity
If you ever have any concern or think you may be in preterm labor, contact your care team. They have been through this many times and will be able to help you decide how to proceed.