| Full term pregnancy is 37 weeks. If you go into | | | | Â- Exposure to the medication DES |
| labor before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, | | | | Â- Domestic violence (physical, sexual or |
| this is preterm or premature labor and too early | | | | emotional abuse) |
| for your baby to be born. Preterm or premature | | | | Â- Lack of social support |
| babies have a higher risk for lifelong or | | | | Â- Stress |
| life-threatening health problems. | | | | Â- Long working hours with long periods of |
| There are medications that can delay or stop | | | | standing |
| preterm labor. In many cases these medications | | | | The medical conditions during pregnancy that may |
| can delay the birth long enough to get mom to a | | | | increase the chances of a woman delivering too |
| hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit. If the | | | | early include: |
| baby still comes too early, there are also | | | | Â- Urinary tract infections |
| medications that can improve the baby's health. | | | | Â- Vaginal infections |
| Symptoms of premature labor include: | | | | Â- Sexually transmitted infections |
| Â- Contractions (abdomen tightening like a | | | | Â- Possibly other infections |
| fist) every 10 minutes or more often | | | | Â- Diabetes |
| Â- Change in vaginal discharge (losing fluid | | | | Â- High blood pressure |
| or bleeding from the vagina) | | | | Â- Clotting disorders (thrombbophilia) |
| Â- Pelvic pressure (a feeling like your baby | | | | Â- Bleeding from the vagina |
| is pushing down) | | | | Â- Certain birth defects in the baby |
| Â- Low, dull backache | | | | Â- Being pregnant with a single fetus after |
| Â- Cramps that feel like your monthly | | | | in vitro fertilization (IVF) |
| period | | | | Â- Being underweight before pregnancy |
| Â- Abdominal cramps with or without | | | | Â- Obesity |
| diarrhea | | | | Â- Short time period between pregnancies |
| If you experience any "one" of the above | | | | (less than 6-9 months between birth and the |
| symptoms you need to call your health care | | | | beginning of the next pregnancy) |
| provider or go to the nearest hospital and/or | | | | Other high risk categories researchers have |
| emergency care unit right away. | | | | identified include: |
| Any pregnant woman can experience preterm | | | | Â- African-American women |
| labor and delivery. There are some women at | | | | Â- Women younger than 17 or older than |
| higher risk for preterm labor. Researchers | | | | 35 |
| continue to study preterm labor and birth; they | | | | Â- Poor women are at a greater risk than |
| have identified some risk factors that include: | | | | other women |
| Â- Women who have had a previous | | | | Keep in mind that even if you have one of these |
| preterm birth | | | | risk factors, it does not mean for certain you will |
| Â- Women who are pregnant with twins, | | | | deliver your baby or babies early. This only means |
| triplets or more | | | | these are the risk factors identified by experts |
| Â- Women with certain uterine or cervical | | | | who study pregnancy and preterm labor. On the |
| abnormalities | | | | other hand, it is also possible for a woman to |
| Even if you are one in the above categories of | | | | deliver early who is "not" in one of these high risk |
| high risk for a preterm birth, researchers still | | | | categories. Either way it is important to know: |
| cannot predict which women will give birth too | | | | Â- The signs and symptoms of preterm |
| early. If you have a risk factor it does not mean | | | | labor when you confirm a pregnancy |
| you will be a woman to give birth too early. It | | | | Â- Know what to do if you have any of |
| just means you might be more likely to have | | | | the signs and symptoms of preterm labor |
| problems of preterm labor or birth more so than | | | | Â- Take very good care of yourself and |
| other women. | | | | your baby while you are pregnant to help ensure |
| Also if you are a woman in one of the high risk | | | | a full term delivery |
| categories it is especially important for you to | | | | Source: March of Dimes Association |
| know the signs and symptoms of preterm labor | | | | Disclaimer: *This article is not meant to diagnose, |
| and what to do. | | | | treat or cure any kind of a health problem. These |
| Certain lifestyle factors may put a woman at | | | | statements have not been evaluated by the Food |
| greater risk of preterm labor. Lifestyle factors | | | | and Drug Administration. Always consult with your |
| include: | | | | health care provider about any kind of a health |
| Â- Late or no prenatal care | | | | problem and especially before beginning any kind |
| Â- Smoking | | | | of an exercise routine. |
| Â- Drinking alcohol | | | | This article is FREE to publish with the resource |
| Â- Using illegal drugs | | | | box. Article written 5-2007. |