Going into labor prematurely can be frightening for a pregnant mother and can pose risks to an unborn child. It is important women be aware of the signs and symptoms of premature labor because early intervention may allow them to delay delivery or even carry a baby to term. While most pregnancies last to the full term mark of 37-40 weeks, the March of Dimes estimates that 12% of all births are premature.
Signs of Premature Labor
There are a number of signs and symptoms of premature labor that women should be on guard for. If a pregnant woman experiences any of the following symptoms she should call her doctor immediately.
- More than 5 contractions in an hour.
- Women can experience false labor contractions in mid to late pregnancy but these are infrequent and irregular. Five or more contractions within sixty minutes is a sign of a problem.
- Leaking odorless fluid that does not smell like urine is a sign a woman is leaking amniotic fluid
- Experiencing cramping much like a woman would feel when menstruating
- Dull lower back pain
- Feeling like the baby is pressing down in the pelvic area or on the cervix
- Diarrhea like cramps
- Increase or change in discharge
Even if a woman is afraid her doctor will think she is paranoid for calling about her symptoms she should get checked. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to labor symptoms.
What Can Be Done About Premature Labor
Depending on the situation there are actions that can be taken to stop labor if its onset occurs too early. If the mother and baby are not in medical distress, there is no uterine infection and the baby is safer inside of the womb than out, medication can be given to stop labor. There are a number of medications that can be used to accomplish this and the choice of medication by a physician depends on the patient's health history and current medical condition.
IV fluids are often also given to help stop labor as dehydration can play a factor in a woman experiencing premature contractions.
Benefits of Stopping Premature Labor
Stopping premature labor is beneficial in some cases because it allows the mother to carry the baby in the womb longer so that the baby can be born at a gestational age where it can survive more easily. Stopping labor even temporarily can allow doctors to give the mother steroids that will help the baby's lungs develop faster so it may breathe better on its own if born before full-term.
It is important that a woman experiencing any signs of premature labor call her practitioner immediately. If it is premature labor, the sooner action is taken the better the possible outcome for both mother and baby.
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