risk of Premature Labor

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.