Signs and Symptoms of Premature Labor

Speak With Your Doctor about your pregnancy health

Your physician can use the results of your PreTRM Test, along with other information from your prenatal visits and your medical history, to create a personalized plan for your medical care.

Plan for Possible Preterm Labor and Delivery

If you learn that your pregnancy is at higher risk of preterm birth, there are steps that you can take to plan for this possibility:

• Pay attention to unusual changes in your body so you can alert your doctor of any signs of premature labor
• Research and select a hospital with a reputable neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
• Work with your employer to plan for a possible early maternity leave due to premature birth
• Arrange for the care of your other children if needed
• Change travel plans for the weeks before your due date as needed

Know the Signs and Symptoms of Premature Labor

Prompt access to medical care is very important in the case of premature labor. You should be familiar with the signs and symptoms of premature labor, or if you experience any unusual changes to your body, call your doctor immediately if you experience any of them:

• Contractions every 12 minutes or more often. These feel like your abdomen is tightening or bunching up like a fist. While it is normal to experience some occasional contractions, you need to see your doctor if you have more than five in an hour.
• Change in vaginal discharge. Your vagina leaks blood, watery mucus, or other fluid.
• Pelvic pressure. This is a feeling that your baby is pushing down on your lower belly or hips. 
• Backache. The pain may be constant and dull in your low back, or it may come and go in waves and move toward the front of your abdomen. It may feel different from other back pain you may have experienced during pregnancy.
• Cramps. They may feel like menstrual cramps, and they may occur with or without diarrhea.

While some of these symptoms may come with false labor, it is always best to be evaluated by your physician. When in doubt, call your doctor.