Preterm labor

• Preterm labor and delivery can happen to any pregnant woman.
• Women can take steps to reduce the risk of preterm labor.
• Know the signs of preterm labor and what to do about them.

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Preterm labor and delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. But they happen more often to some women than to others. Researchers continue to study preterm labor and birth. They have identified some risk factors, but still cannot predict which women will give birth too early. Having a risk factor does not mean a woman will have preterm labor or preterm birth. It means she is more likely to have preterm labor or birth than other women.

Three groups of women are at greatest risk of preterm labor and birth:

• Women who have had a previous preterm birth
• Women who are pregnant with twins, triplets or more
• Women with certain uterine or cervical abnormalities

If you have any of these three risk factors, it's especially important for you to know the signs and symptoms of preterm labor and what to do if they occur.

Lifestyle and environmental risks
Some studies have found that certain lifestyle factors may put a woman at greater risk of preterm labor. These factors include:

• Late or no prenatal care
• Smoking
• Drinking alcohol
• Using illegal drugs
• Exposure to the medication DES
• Domestic violence, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse
• Lack of social support
• Stress
• Long working hours with long periods of standing
• Exposure to certain environmental pollutants

Medical risks
Certain medical conditions during pregnancy may increase the likelihood that a woman will have preterm labor. These conditions include:

• Urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, sexually transmitted infections and possibly other infections
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure and preeclampsia
• Clotting disorders (thrombophilia)
• Bleeding from the vagina
• Certain birth defects in the baby
• Being pregnant with a single fetus that is the result of in vitro fertilization (IVF)
• Being underweight before pregnancy
• Obesity
• Short time period between pregnancies (less than 6-9 months between birth and the beginning of the next pregnancy)

Groups at increased risk
Reseachers also have identified certain groups that are at increased risk of having a premature baby. These groups include:

• African-American women
• Women younger than 17 and older than 35
• Women that have a low income

What can women do?
Remember, though, even if you have one of these risk factors, it does not mean you will have preterm labor. It just means that you are at greater risk than a woman who does not have a risk factor. Still, knowing you're at risk is scary. That's why it's so important that you:

• Visit a health care provider before you get pregnant.
• Know the signs and symptoms of preterm labor. (See the video Take Action: Learn the Signs of Preterm Labor.)
• Know what to do if you have any of them.
• Take very good care of yourself and your baby while you're pregnant.

This is the best way to protect yourself and your baby against preterm labor and delivery.

The March of Dimes is funding research to better understand risk factors and the causes of premature birth.

July 2009/April 2010