Description of Preterm Labor A "term" pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy in which birth occurs between 37 and 42 weeks gestation. Preterm labor is defined as true labor which occurs before the end of the 36th week of pregnancy. Preterm labor can often be stopped before birth occurs. If the labor ends in delivery, the birth is considered preterm. Preterm babies often have low birth weight (weighing less than 2500 grams or 51 lbs). Preterm babies are at risk for a variety of health problems, with earlier babies being at greater risk for complications. Incidence/Prevalence of Preterm Labor Preterm labor is common. It effects 8-12% of all pregnancies. Signs and Symptoms of Preterm Labor

Regular uterine contractions (with or without pain) that last for more than 1 hour Back ache or back pain. The discomfort may be manifest as dull pain, sharp pain, or pressure. Intestinal cramping, with or without diarrhea Intermittent pain or a heaviness in the low abdomen or thighs Spotting or blood tinged discharge (the mucus plug being lost) or leakage of fluid (pemature rupture of membranes). Clinical signs include thinning of the cervix (effacement greater than 50%), dilation of the cervix beyond 1 cm, presence of contractions as determined by palpation or monitor, and , in some cases, evidence of ruptured membranes.

Risk Factors for Preterm Labor

Multiple gestation Cigarette smoking Alcohol use Drug abuse Prior preterm delivery Three or more first-trimester miscarriages or one second-trimester miscarriage Cervical incompetence Placenta previa Fetal abnormalities Serious maternal infection (including urinary tract infection, chlamydia, gonorrhea, Group B Strep) Prepregnancy weight less than 100 lbs (45 kg) Abnormalities of the uterus or cervix (most common in women who were exposed to DES in utero) No prenatal care