Preterm labor: symptoms and consequences

premature birth

For a future mother it is good that she knows diagnose what are the symptoms of premature labor. It is a crucial fact that, given the symptoms, the pregnant woman can sound the alarm and be treated in a hospital center. From this point perhaps a remedy can be given to a delivery that should not occur on that date, due to possible problems that may occur in the future baby.

Preterm labor happens before 37 weeks of gestation And the fact that it happens can lead to negative consequences for the baby. Approximately this happens in ten percent of the cases and that is why all these alarm signals must be recognized in order to be able, if possible, stop this process and the pregnancy develops normally.

What is a preterm birth?

A preterm birth happens before the 37th week of pregnancy or what is the same, that want to happen at least three weeks before the estimated date. The fact that this happens it can cause complications in the health of the future baby.

Those who are at risk of preterm birth people who have already had other preterm births, the mothers pregnant twins, triplets or more, women with problems with the cervix or uterus, even of those who have not received medical attention during their pregnancy and do not carry a healthy pregnancy by the consumption of toxic substances.

premature birth

What are the symptoms of preterm labor?

A woman who has already experienced preterm labor may can diagnose symptoms that lead to this fact, but for other reasons, there are women who are not first-time and they need to know what the signs are:

  • A change in vaginal discharge. It can become more watery or mucous, and even blood may appear.
  • Pains under the belly or abdominal area, as a great menstrual pain for more than an hour, accompanied or not by diarrhea.
  • Pressure in the pelvis or lower abdomen, accompanied by pain in the back or in the hips or between the thighs, as if the baby is pushing down.
  • Appearance of contractions. It is the sensation that the belly begins to harden producing these involuntary movements. Its rhythm appears regularly and frequently, it may be the case of a contraction appearing every 15 minutes or less.
  • The rupture of the amniotic sac: It is another of the symptoms that indicate that labor will occur in hours.
  • Expulsion of the mucous plug: It is another of the symptoms that indicate a preparation to take place a next delivery, since the dilation of the cervix takes place.

premature birth

What to do before a premature birth?

Many future mothers are already diagnosed due to different circumstances, such as alleged victims of having a premature birth, as a result of a risky pregnancy. That is why they know that they have to practice a resting pregnancy and act on any incident or sign.

However, you have to keep calm and not have restlessness, in the event that it appears without just cause or increase body temperature You must go to a specialist or to the emergency room.

In the spotlight a pelvic exam or transvaginal ultrasound will be done to diagnose if the cervix has begun to prepare and open for labor. If you have contractions, it will determine how often they are occurring and if the body is preparing to go into labor.


The specialist will take the necessary measures to indicate if treatment is needed to stop preterm labor, as it can endanger the health of the baby. To find out what the risks of preterm birth may be, find out in this link.


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