Preterm labor or premature birth is labor that begins early, before the start of the 37th week of pregnancy.
Many healthy babies are born prematurely. However, in general, the earlier a baby is born, the more health problems arise and the higher the need for a longer hospital stay.
Signs of premature labor
According to a March of Dimes report, the following may be signs of preterm labor:
- more vaginal discharge than usual;
- changes in the discharge, which may be bloody, watery, or mucousy;
- pain in the pelvic region or lower abdomen;
- pain in the lower back, especially if persistent;
- abdominal cramps that may occur with diarrhea;
- regular or frequent painful contractions;
- water breaking;
Anyone who experiences one or more of these symptoms should contact a doctor immediately or go to the hospital immediately.
Useful: Signs of labor
Causes of premature labor
Doctors sometimes cannot tell why labor started early. Overall, a wide range of risk factors can trigger this.
General risk factors
The following may increase the likelihood of premature birth:
- a history of premature labor;
- having a pregnancy with twins, triplets, or more;
- vaginal bleeding in the second or third trimester;
- standing for long periods during work;
- being over 35 or under 17 years of age;
- poisoning by harmful chemicals;
- being underweight or overweight before pregnancy;
- not gaining enough weight during pregnancy;
- insufficient prenatal care or examinations;
- becoming pregnant again within 18 months after childbirth;
- conceiving through artificial insemination;
- using alcohol, drugs, or misusing prescription drugs.
Certain health problems can increase the risk of preterm labor. These include:
- Current or past health problems affecting the uterus or cervix;
- anemia;
- urinary tract infections;
- vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis;
- sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea infections
- diabetes;
- thyroid diseases;
- high blood pressure and preeclampsia;
- pregnancy cholestasis, liver diseases
- blood clotting disorders such as thrombophilia or antiphospholipid syndrome.
Several infections, as well as some specific infections like toxoplasmosis, are more harmful during pregnancy than at other times, which can increase the risk of preterm labor and delivery.
Important: Danger warning signs for women after childbirth
Prevention
A person cannot avoid certain factors that increase the risk of premature birth, such as age, family, or obstetric history.
However, a person can take the following measures to reduce the impact of other risk factors:
- familiarize yourself with the signs of premature birth and, if symptoms appear, plan to contact a doctor or go to the hospital immediately;
- attend all prenatal appointments, examinations, and scans, even if your pregnancy is going smoothly;
- maintain a healthy weight before and during pregnancy;
- try to reduce stress during pregnancy, for example, by using relaxation techniques;
- leave a gap of at least 18 months between pregnancies.
Next steps
If someone is experiencing preterm labor, it is necessary to contact a healthcare professional or take them to the hospital as soon as possible.
The healthcare provider will also evaluate whether labor has begun by examining the cervix and amniotic fluid levels. They may use an ultrasound, a transvaginal scan, or both to check the baby's condition and the length of the cervix, which changes during labor.
