A typical pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks. Preterm labor is labor that starts before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Going into preterm labor does not automatically mean that a woman will have a preterm birth. But preterm labor needs medical attention right away. Preterm birth is the birth of a baby before 37 weeks. Preterm babies may be born with serious health problems.
Some health problems, like cerebral palsy , can be lifelong. Other problems, such as learning disabilities, may appear later in childhood or even in adulthood. Preterm labor contractions lead to changes in the cervix.
The changes include effacement thinning of the cervix and dilation opening of the cervix. Signs and symptoms include the following:. If you have any signs or symptoms of preterm labor, do not wait. Call the office of your obstetrician—gynecologist ob-gyn right away or go to the hospital. Preterm labor is diagnosed when changes in the cervix are found after contractions start.
In some cases, yes. For about 3 in 10 women, preterm labor stops on its own. If it does not stop, treatments may be given to try to delay birth. In some cases, these treatments may reduce the risk of complications if the baby is born. Preterm labor can happen to anyone without warning. But there are some factors that can increase the risk of preterm labor, including:. Many women who have preterm births have no known risk factors. Some risk factors include the following:. Short cervix measured during a transvaginal ultrasound exam.
Early cervical dilation measured during a pelvic exam. Carrying more than one fetus. Your ob-gyn may do a pelvic exam to see if your cervix has started to change. You may need to be examined several times over a period of a few hours.
Your contractions also may be monitored. An ultrasound exam to estimate gestational age or to check the size of your fetus. A vaginal swab to test for the presence of fetal fibronectin. This is a protein that acts like a glue, helping the amniotic sac stay connected to the inside of the uterus.
It is difficult for health care professionals to predict which women with preterm labor will go on to have preterm birth. The goals of monitoring and treatment are to reduce the risk of preterm birth and protect the health of you and your fetus. If the fetus would benefit from a delay in delivery, medications may be given to:.
When preterm labor is too far along to be stopped, delivery may be necessary. If your hospital does not have the resources to care for preterm babies, your ob-gyn may recommend transfer to another hospital with these resources.
Medications that help prepare a fetus for preterm birth include corticosteroids , magnesium sulfate , and tocolytics. A single course of corticosteroids may be recommended between 24 and 34 weeks of pregnancy for women who are at risk of delivery within 7 days, including for women with ruptured membranes and those carrying more than one fetus. If a woman is likely to give birth within 1 week, a single course of corticosteroids is given.
It takes 2 days after the first dose is given for the most benefits to occur, but there is some benefit in the first 24 hours. A repeat course of corticosteroids can be given if a previous course was given more than 14 days ago and there is risk for delivery within 7 days. When given before preterm birth, magnesium sulfate may reduce the risk of cerebral palsy and problems with physical movement.
This medication may be given if a woman is less than 32 weeks pregnant and at risk of delivery within the next 24 hours. Magnesium sulfate may cause minor side effects, including flushing, hot flashes, blurred vision, and weakness. Tocolytics are medications used to delay delivery, sometimes for up to 48 hours. If delivery is delayed even a few hours, it may allow more time to give corticosteroids or magnesium sulfate. This delay also may allow time for transfer to a hospital with specialized care for preterm babies.
Tocolytics are given when an ob-gyn thinks the benefits of the treatment outweigh the risks. Tocolytics typically are not given when:. Tocolytics can have side effects for the woman, some of which can be serious. The side effects differ depending on the drug. If labor does not stop and a woman gives birth early, a team of health care professionals will take care of the baby. The team may include a neonatologist. The care a baby needs depends on how early he or she is born.
A neonatal intensive care unit NICU provides specialized care for preterm babies. Some babies need to stay in the NICU for weeks or even months. A significant risk factor for preterm birth is a past preterm birth.
Women with past preterm birth are 2 to 3 times more likely to deliver preterm in the future. This risk increases with each preterm birth. But some women will deliver preterm without any clear risk factors.
If you are at risk of preterm birth, talk with your ob-gyn about treatments that may help prevent it. PROM is the rupture of membranes, or water breaking, before the onset of labor.
Use of corticosteroids, magnesium sulfate, tocolytic therapy, and antibiotics, as well as non-medical treatments such as bed rest, are covered. Cerclage for the Management of Cervical Insufficiency members only.
Screening methods, diagnosis, and treatment are covered, including cerclage, the use of stiches to hold the cervix closed. Neonatal outcomes vary widely within weeks and new gestational age designations were developed to address those differences. Treatment with progesterone and cerclage placement are reviewed, as well as cervical length screening. The videos provide clinical guidance on the use of 17OHPC and the use of cervical length screening to assess risk for managsment birth.
The document covers the signs of premature labor, methods of diagnosis, and available treatment options. It discusses the possible complications of extremely preterm birth and the treatment and management options available.
March of Dimes raises awareness for and supports research to find the cause of prematurity, helping mothers to have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. Preterm Premature Labor and Birth: Resource Overview When birth occurs between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, it is called preterm, or premature, birth. Visit the Society for Maternal ;ractice Medicine website. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website.
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