Premature Labour 101

Most, approximately 90% of expecting mothers, will carry their babies to term. “To term” means 37 weeks of pregnancy onwards. Around 10% of women may go into labour before 37 weeks. This is called premature labour or preterm labour, and it is aptly defined as when your body gets ready to give birth to early or goes into labour more than three weeks before your due date.

Signs of premature labour can be tricky because they are similar to some of the pregnancy symptoms many mothers have become familiar with such as:

• Backache.  With preterm labour, what you should be on the lookout for is a backache that doesn’t go away or is relieved by a change in position.  If the backache is recurring or persistent, meaning it comes back after the change in position (it may have gone away briefly) this could still be a sign.

• Cramps.  Going into labour can also feel like those period cramps you thought you’d kicked when you became pregnant. A gassy feeling may also be a sign.  What is important to look out for is this symptom coupled with others.

• Pelvic pressure.  As a baby prepares to enter the birth canal, it descends lower down into the mother’s pelvis, which gives mothers a feeling of pressure near the bottom of their womb. 

• Discharge or bleeding.  When you are in later stages of your pregnancy, even a little bleeding should be a signal to call your doctor. This could be a sign of preterm labour. Increased discharge (your water breaking) is another telltale clue.

• Flu symptoms.  As confusing as this is, if you have flu-like symptoms coupled with some of the other signs mentioned, you may be going into premature labour. In any case, feeling like you have the flu is a red flag when you are pregnant, and you should always consult your doctor.

• Contractions.  Feeling your stomach tightening and loosening periodically can be the most tell-tale sign of preterm labour. Be sure to check the time in between your contractions. If your contractions are 10 minutes apart or less than 10 minutes apart, you may be going into labour.

There are many possible causes of premature labour, and no single real cause. Some of them can be addressed, while others are well beyond a mother’s control. Here are a few commonly cited cause:

• Smoking

• Being obese or being too thin when pregnant

• Alcohol or drug intake

• An IVF pregnancy

• Stretching of the uterus (usually if the pregnancy is a multiple)

• Hormone changes

• If the baby has birth defects

• Becoming pregnant less than 12 months after your previous delivery, or becoming pregnant more than 4 years after your previous baby

• Family history

If you expect you are going into premature labour it is important that you get to a hospital as soon as you can so that doctors and nurses can assess you and help prep you (you may need to be put on an IV drip) and to help prep your baby for birth (your doctor may need to give you medicine that will help speed up your baby’s lung development–this is dependent on how far along you are in the pregnancy.)  Shortly before 37 weeks and premature babies may only need a couple of days in special care, or–in some lucky cases–none at all. However, babies born before 7 months may need to be placed in a special intensive care unit for infants known as the NICU, where doctors and nurses will help your baby become strong and healthy before you bring him/her home.