Preterm Labor and Delivery

It is common to have concerns when you are pregnant. Going to all of your prenatal appointments can help catch problems early or prevent them. Call your provider’s office after hours line, your local hospital, or the number on the back of your health plan ID card for the 24-hour Nurse Advice Line if you have concerns.

Preterm Babies

Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks or 10 months. A preterm baby is one born more than 3 weeks early or before 37 weeks. They are sometimes called “preemies.”

See your healthcare provider right away if you have any signs of early labor. There may be medicines they can give you to help stop the labor.

The signs of labor may include:

• Painful contractions.
• Vaginal spotting or bleeding.
• Period-like cramps.
• Constant dull lower back pain.
• Increased pressure in your lower pelvic area.
• Fluid leaking from your vagina. If it does not smell like urine, it might be amniotic fluid.

Not all preterm labors can be stopped. The closer you deliver to your due date the longer your baby has to develop. Premature babies are at higher risk of:·

• Breathing problems.
• Trouble with behavior and learning. 
• Infections.
• Bleeding in the brain.
• Trouble feeding.
• Vision loss.
• Hearing difficulties.
• Delayed growth and development.