Early labor begins before you’ve finished 37 weeks of pregnancy, and babies born this early can have lifelong or life-threatening health problems.
What Happens
If you go into early labor, you will likely be given meds to delay or stop it. In some cases, it can be delayed long enough to transport you to a hospital that has a . You may also be given medications that can improve the baby’s health if they come early.
Warning Signs
- Contractions – Your abdomen will tighten like a fist every 10 minutes or more.
- Change in Vaginal Discharge – You might leak fluid or bleed from your vagina.
- Pelvic Pressure – This might feel like your baby is pushing down.
- Cramps – These might feel like your period or like abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea.
- Backache – You might feel a low, full backache.
What to Do
Call your doctor or go to the hospital right away if you’re going into labor or have any of the warning signs. They may tell you to:
- Come into the office or go to the hospital for a checkup
- Stop what you’re doing and rest on your side for an hour
- Drink 2 to 3 glasses of water or juice
If your symptoms get worse or do not go away after an hour, call your doctor back or go to the hospital. If the symptoms improve, relax for the rest of the day.
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