Preterm labor

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

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Preterm labor is labor that happens before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. This is too early for your baby to be born. Babies born too soon can have lifelong or life-threatening health problems.

What are the warning signs of preterm labor?
Here are some signs that you may have preterm labor:

• Contractions (your belly tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often
• Change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from your vagina)
• Pelvic pressure—the feeling that your baby is pushing down
• Low, dull backache
• Cramps that feel like your period
• Belly cramps with or without diarrhea

What should you do if you think you're having preterm labor?
Call your health care provider or go to the hospital right away if you think you're having preterm labor, or if you have any of the warning signs. Call even if you have only one sign.

Your health care provider may tell you to: 

• Come into the office or go to the hospital for a checkup. 
• Stop what you're doing. Rest on your left side for 1 hour. 
• Drink 2 to 3 glasses of water or juice (not coffee or soda).

If the signs get worse or don’t go away after 1 hour, call your provider again or go to the hospital. If they get better, relax for the rest of the day.

Can preterm labor be stopped?
Your provider may give you medicine to try to stop preterm labor. You also may get some medicine that can improve your baby's health, even if he does come early.

Last reviewed January 2013

See also: Preterm labor and birth, Medicines for preterm labor