Pregnancy is normally a time of happiness and anticipation, but it
can also be a time of unknowns. Many women have concerns about what
is happening with their baby. Is everything okay? Some women wonder
about going into labor early. Premature labor occurs in about 12%
of all pregnancies. However, knowing the symptoms and avoiding particular
risk factors can lower a woman's chance of premature labor.
What is premature labor?
A normal pregnancy should last about 40 weeks. Occasionally, labor
may begin prematurely before the 37th week of pregnancy because uterine
contractions cause the cervix to open earlier than normal. When this
happens, the baby is born premature and can be at risk for health
problems. Fortunately, due to research, technology and medicine, the
health of premature babies is improving.
What risk factors place me at a high risk for premature labor?
Certain factors may increase a woman's risk of having premature labor,
although the specific causes of premature labor are not known. However,
having a specific risk factor does not mean a woman is predetermined
to have premature labor. A woman may have premature labor for no apparent
reason. If you have any of these risk factors, it's important to know
the symptoms of premature labor and what you should do if they occur.