Preterm Labor

Also called: Early Labor, Premature Birth, Premature Labor, Preterm Birth

Summary

Preterm labor is labor that starts before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. It can lead to premature birth. Premature babies may face serious health risks.

Symptoms of preterm labor include

Contractions every 10 minutes or more often
Leaking fluid or bleeding from the vagina
Feeling of pressure in the pelvis
Low, dull backache
Cramps that feel like menstrual cramps
Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea

If you think you might be having preterm labor, contact your health care provider.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Learn More

Preterm Birth (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Preterm labor (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Preterm labor and premature birth: Are you at risk? (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
Preterm Labor: What Dad Can Do (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) Also in Spanish
Treatments for Preterm Labor (March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) Also in Spanish
What Are the Risks Factors for Preterm Labor and Birth? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
What Is Preterm Labor and Birth? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
What Treatments Can Reduce the Chances of Preterm Labor and Birth? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Obstetric Labor, Premature (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

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National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Preterm Labor is the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Other Languages

Find health information in languages other than English on Preterm Labor

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