Symptoms of Preterm LaborThis is a featured page

If you ever experience any of the following symptoms while your pregnancy is in progress, report this to your doctor immediately:

  • vaginal bleeding -- There is a heavy discharge of blood, brownish or blood-tinged musuc discharge.
  • incompetent cervix -- Your cervix dilates by 10 centimeters or more.
  • increased risk for premature labor -- Consistently high blood pressure, heavy lifting, taking unprescribed drugs, alcohol, smoking are among the factors that may trigger preterm labor.
  • "placenta previa" -- This means that your placenta is lying unusually low in your uterus, next to or covering your cervix. If the placenta (a pancake-shaped organ normally located near the top of the uterus) covers the cervix completely, it is called a complete or total previa. If it's right on the border of the cervix, it's called a marginal previa. ("Partial previa," another term, refers to a placenta covering part of the cervical opening once the cervix starts to dilate.)
If the edge of the placenta is within 2 cm. of the cervix but not bordering it, it's called a low-lying
placenta. The location of your placenta will be checked during your midpregnancy ultrasoud exam.

What to do in case these symptoms occur:
  • Don't panic.
  • Consult your family doctor.
  • You'll be monitored closely by regular ultrasounds.
  • You''ll need to watch for the recurrence of vaginal bleeding.
  • You'll be put on "pelvic rest". This means no intercouse or vaginal exams for the rest of your pregnancy.
  • You'll be advised to take it easy.
  • Avoid activities that might cause bleeding, such as strenuous housework or heavy weights.
  • If you start bleeding or have contractions, you'll need to be hospitalized, where you'll be watched until the bleeding stops.
  • If you're less than 34 weeks, you may be given corticosterois to speed up your baby's development and to prevent other complications in case he ends up being delivered prematurely.

-- Adapted from BabyCenter.com



SIGNS OF LABOR

  • Cervix becomes progressively thinner and softer (effacement) and dilated -- up to 10 cm.
  • Contractions at regular and increasingly shorter intervals; longer and stronger intensity
  • Persistent lower back pain, often with crampy premenstrual feeling
  • Appearance of a bloody show (brownish or blood-tinged mucus discharge)
  • Waters break, if accompanied by contractions
  • Lightening (baby's head begins to drop into position in your pevlvis)
  • Increase of vaginal discharge
  • More frequent and noticeably more intense Braxton Hicks contractions


Posted Anonymously Latest page update: made by Anonymous , Jun 27 2006, 5:14 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Posted Anonymously Signs of Labor - anonymous

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