Premature (or preterm) labour is labour that starts before week 37 of pregnancy.
Emergency action required: Go to your nearest maternity unit if
you're less than 37 weeks pregnant and you have:
- frequent contractions that are getting stronger
- a gush or leaking of fluid from your vagina - this could be your waters breaking
- sudden changes in your vaginal discharge
- a 'show' - this is when a mucous plug and sticky mucus discharges from your vagina (it can be clear or pink)
- period-type cramps or tummy pain
- backache that feels unusual for you
- bleeding from your vagina
- a sudden feeling of pressure in your pelvis or lower tummy, like your baby is pushing down
- a feeling that something 'is not right'
When you arrive at the maternity unit, your midwife and obstetrician may examine you and do some tests to check:
- that you're in labour
- if your waters have broken
- the health of you and your baby
These tests may include:
- checking your temperature, blood pressure and pulse
- feeling your tummy to check your baby’s position and if you have tenderness or contractions
- checking your baby's heartbeat
- testing your pee for infection and for protein (a sign of pre-eclampsia)
- swabbing your vagina to test for infection
- checking your vagina to see if your cervix is opening
- testing to see if any fluid coming from your vagina is amniotic fluid (the water that surrounds your baby in the womb)
The tests you have will depend on your particular circumstances and symptoms.
Warning signs during pregnancy
If your waters break early
If your waters break before 37 weeks, this is called preterm prelabour rupture of the membranes (P-PROM).
It's not always obvious if this has happened.
Your midwife or obstetrician may need to examine your vagina to check if your waters have broken. They may insert a small device called a speculum into your vagina. This holds it open so it's easier to see inside. They will ask for your consent to do this. They may test fluid that has leaked from your vagina.
If your waters break before labour starts, you may be offered:
- antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection for you and your baby - you may need to stay in hospital for this
- a steroid injection to reduce the risk of your baby having breathing problems if they're born too early
There are treatments that can delay the birth and reduce the risk of health problems for preterm babies.
