Premature Labor
On this page, you will find everything you are looking for regarding preterm birth.
What Is Preterm Birth?
Pregnancy typically lasts between 38 to 42 weeks. In some health cases, labor occurs and the baby is born before the pregnancy is full-term (before 37 weeks) without medical intervention. In other cases, induction or a cesarean section is performed due to pregnancy complications or other health conditions before completing the pregnancy.
What are the Symptoms of Preterm Birth?
- In most cases, early labor begins unexpectedly, and some of these symptoms appear:
- Contractions every ten minutes or more.
- Changes in vaginal discharge.
- Pelvic pressure.
- Lower back pain.
- Cramps that feel like a menstrual period.
Water breaking.
What Causes Preterm Birth?
Babies may be born prematurely due to spontaneous early labor, which occurs because of an illness, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, or without any apparent reason. Alternatively, there might be a necessary medical recommendation for early induction of labor or a cesarean due to infections or other pregnancy complications.
What are the Diagnosis Methods?
- The doctor takes the medical history and performs a physical examination. Additional procedures may be requested as needed, such as:
- Using a contraction monitor to check the frequency and duration of contractions.
- After confirming contractions, it is checked whether the cervix is dilated, and a vaginal swab is taken to rule out infection.
Vaginal fluid is tested to check the presence of amniotic fluid in the vagina, which may help the doctor determine if there is a risk of preterm birth.
If preterm birth symptoms are evident, the patient is admitted to the pre-labor ward for monitoring.
What are the Treatment Methods for Preterm Birth?
- If symptoms of preterm birth begin, treatment involves several procedures or steps as required based on gestational weeks and when preterm labor started. These may include:
- Medication to attempt to slow or stop labor.
Receiving steroid injections to help the fetus’s lungs develop before birth.
- The doctor must consider the following:
- The duration of the pregnancy and whether the birth is safe for the fetus.
Ensuring the availability of a neonatal intensive care unit.
If labor occurs very early (week 24 to 29), the doctor may recommend taking magnesium sulfate for five to seven days to prevent certain complications for both mother and baby.
What are the Prevention Methods for Preterm Birth?
- Preventing preterm birth remains challenging due to the multiple and complex causes of preterm birth. Some of these methods are not well understood, yet pregnant women can take early steps to reduce the risk of preterm birth:
- Quitting smoking.
- Receiving prenatal care.
- Seeking medical care for any preterm birth symptoms.
- Discussing with the doctor the possibility of using progesterone if there was a previous preterm birth.
Waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies.
What are the Complications of Preterm Birth?
- The child goes through an important growth phase throughout pregnancy, including the last months and weeks. For example, the brain, lungs, and liver require the last weeks of pregnancy to develop fully. Therefore, children who survive may experience:
- Breathing problems.
- Feeding difficulties.
- Cerebral palsy.
- Developmental delays.
- Vision problems.
Hearing problems.
When Should You Consult a Doctor?
During regular prenatal visits, you will be informed about the symptoms and risks of preterm birth. If you are at risk of preterm birth and experience symptoms, including contractions and leaking of fluid from the vagina, it is best to go to the emergency room immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is the difference between true labor contractions and false labor contractions (Braxton Hicks contractions)?
- True contractions are regular and increase in number and intensity over time, whereas false contractions occur irregularly once or twice an hour and vary in intensity between contractions.
