Pre-Term Labor – Recognizing Warning Signs and Symptoms

The warning signs of pre-term labor can easily be masked by what may seem commonplace and what you can naturally expect during your pregnancy. Pregnancy complications can sometimes be dismissed by medical professionals who believe what you are experiencing is normal. Be aware of the warning signs so you’ll know if this is a run-of-the-mill Braxton Hicks contraction or the real deal!

Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes called “false labor,” may, in fact, be real labor contractions. Depending on how far along in your pregnancy you are, pre-term labor, if detected right away, can be stalled or stopped before actually creating pregnancy complications.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Pre-term Labor

Contractions. While medical professionals will tell you that Braxton Hicks contractions are just practice contractions, and usually don’t hurt, they can sometimes be painful. The difference is that the tightening of the uterus with Braxton Hicks is irregular and might stop when you walk, lie down, drink, eat, or sleep. Real labor pains radiate from your lower back and around your belly and may feel similar to painful menstrual cramps, and last longer, get stronger, and closer together. True labor pains mean your cervix is softening and dilating, a good thing if you’re past 37 weeks of pregnancy, but not a good thing if you haven’t reach that point yet.

If you’ve called your doctor’s office and are waiting for someone to call you back, drink some water, have a protein snack, and lie down on your side to relax and see if the pain will subside. Keep track of how long you’ve been feeling them, how often they come and how painful the contractions are on a scale of 1-10.

Cramping. When you are pregnant, you can have so many aches and pains that it’s hard to distinguish pregnancy complications with the normal achy twinges of pregnancy. Sometimes those feelings are actually round ligament pain. Round ligament pain can be sharp or dull pains that result from the stretching of your uterus during your pregnancy. The pain occurs between your groin and your hips. Pre-term labor pains usually occur above your pubic bone and below your belly button, as well as in your lower back.

Bleeding. If you are bleeding, you should call your doctor. When you are in your first trimester, bleeding can indicate you are having a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or other pregnancy complications. Later in your pregnancy, it could be a sign that you could have placenta previa or placental abruption. Don’t hesitate to call your midwife or doctor if you are bleeding or even go to a hospital emergency room if symptoms don’t seem to be going away and are getting worse.

Leaking fluid.Having your water break doesn’t happen like it does in the movies with one huge gush. It can be a small, slow trickle that doesn’t stop. You could also be leaking urine, a common and wonderful side effect of having your baby pushing against your bladder. You probably know the smell of urine. Amniotic fluid can have no odor or has been described as smelling sweet. A doctor can do a simple test for you to determine if your water has broken or not.

Discharge. A milky vaginal discharge is normal during pregnancy. If your discharge becomes more clear and sticky, like the consistency of egg whites, it could be a sign of pre-term labor. A mucous plug can be expelled gradually or in bigger gobs of mucus that may be tinged pink with blood, or brownish, stringy, and gooey. This is a normal sign of pre-labor and early labor but is not good before 35-37 weeks.

Never be afraid to contact your midwife or doctor if you think you may be experiencing pregnancy complications. You are not a bother to them. It is their job to watch out for you and your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy, labor and delivery. When in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask!

For your free “Healthy Birth Booklet-6 Steps to a Safer Birth” filled with six simple steps that support and guide your decisions before and during labor to have a safer and healthier birth-for both you and your baby, visit the link below.
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Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader should contact a licensed medical professional regarding their own condition.