It is important for expectant mothers to recognize the signs and symptoms of preterm labor. It is a very serious complication of pregnancy where labor begins unexpectedly after the 20^th week and before the 37^th week of gestation. Preterm labor consists of contractions that, if untreated, cause the cervix to open earlier than normal and results in preterm birth.

Women who are at risk of preterm labor are those with history of preterm labor, those who are pregnant with twins, triplets or more and those with cervical or uterine abnormalities.

If a woman knows the warning signs and symptoms of preterm labor, and seeks care early enough, prevention of preterm birth maybe possible. Early diagnosis and treatment will enable you to carry the baby to term and give the fetus a better chance for survival.

Because the onset of preterm labor is subtle and often hard to recognize, it is important how to feel your abdomen for uterine contractions. You can feel for contractions in the following way:

• While lying down, place your finger tips on top of your uterus. A contraction is the periodic hardening or tightening of your uterus. If your uterus is contracting, you will actually feel your abdomen get tight or hard and then feel it relax or soften when the contraction is over.

Check for contractions for 1 hour. To tell how often contractions are occurring, check the minutes that elapsed from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.

It is not normal to have frequent uterine contractions (every 10 minutes or more often for 1 hour).

Contractions of labor are regular, frequent and hard. They may also be felt as tightening of the abdomen or a backache. This type of contraction causes the cervix to efface and dilate.

Call your doctor or health care provider, or go to a hospital if any of the following signs occur:

• You have uterine contractions every 10 minutes or more often than 1 hour
• You have any bloody spotting or leaking of fluid from your vagina
• If you think that the baby is not moving
• Low, dull backache or intense pelvic pressure

False labor contractions, on the other hand, come at irregular intervals and vary in length and intensity. It may subside on its own when you try to stop an activity or change position. True contractions are persistent and will progress no matter what you do.

If you think that you are having any of the signs and symptoms of preterm labor, empty your bladder and drink 3-4 glasses of water for hydration. If the body is dehydrated, the blood volume decreases therefore increasing the concentration of oxytocin (hormone that causes uterine contractions).

You can also lie down tilted on your side, and place a pillow at your back for support.

Management of preterm labor is usually focused on hydration, bed rest and medication to stop labor or infection. But if preterm birth is inevitable, evaluation of the baby is done. Medication is administered to help the preterm baby’s lung to develop more quickly.

Related posts:

1. Why Do Some Women Need to Medically Induce Labor?
2. Natural Ways to Safely Induce Labor
3. What Happens to the Cervix During Pregnancy and Labor?
4. Preventing Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy