Premature labor does not automatically mean the baby will be born too soon. In some cases, preterm labor can be successfully stopped and the pregnancy can continue. In other cases, there is nothing that can be done to prevent early birth. It’s important to recognize the signs and notify your doctor immediately. Early treatment is the best way to ensure the health of your baby.
Symptoms of Preterm Labor:
* Vaginal bleeding
* Cramping or abdominal pain resembling period cramps
* Contractions occurring every fifteen minutes for an hour or more
* Lower back pain
* Leaking fluid from the vagina
* Pressure in the abdomen
If you have any of the signs of preterm labor, call your doctor or midwife immediately. Don’t worry about overreacting. Call the doctor right away. It’s better to have it turn out to be nothing than to ignore the signs and end up in labor.
In some cases, preterm labor can be stopped. This depends on whether the water has broken. When you arrive at the hospital, the nurses will check to see if the membranes are intact. If your water has broken, chances are the baby will be born. If the water has not broken, they may be able to stop labor.
You will be put on a fetal monitor to check the baby’s heart rate. They will also monitor your contractions to determine the strength and if they are regular. In addition, you may be given an internal exam. This is done to check for dilation and effacement.
They may test for common infections known to cause premature labor. Samples of blood, urine and vaginal cultures may be taken to look for the presence of infection. If you have not been tested for Group B Strep, you may be given IV antibiotics. There won’t be time to test for this infection since it takes a couple days to get the results.
You may be given an ultrasound at the hospital. This is done to check the fluid level and to determine if any fluid is leaking. The size of the baby and condition of the baby’s health can be assessed through ultrasound. A vaginal ultrasound can determine if the cervix has changed.
What happens next depends on your health and the condition of the baby. Another factor in the decision will be how far along you are in pregnancy. If you are more than 34 weeks pregnant, they may decide to let labor continue. If you aren’t this far along and the water hasn’t broken, steps may be taken to delay labor.
Medications may be administered to stop uterine contractions. These are often given through an IV. Steroids may be given to help the baby’s lungs mature. This can help the baby have a better chance at survival and reduce complications in the event labor can’t be stopped.