Premature birth can signal the loss of fluid or blood through the vagina and also the uterine contractions that appear before 37 weeks of gestation. Therefore, if the pregnant woman perceives these signs, she must be attentive to her body, trying to identify whether the symptoms remain, worsen or if others appear.
If you suspect that you are going into labor prematurely, you should call the obstetrician to report the signs you are showing or go to the hospital as soon as possible. Often uterine contractions improve when the woman is at rest, which indicates that the first signs were of false labor, but in any case, the doctor should be warned of the symptoms she presents.
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Signs and symptoms of premature birth
The main sign of labor is uterine contractions, which appear in the form of very strong colic affecting the lower belly or the back. See other signs that may indicate uterine contractions by clicking here.
In addition to contractions, other signs that may indicate that labor has started are:
- Persistent pressure in the bottom of the belly; Great increase in the urge to urinate; Gelatinous discharge that may or may not contain traces of blood.
If the woman has some of these symptoms and is still less than 37 weeks pregnant, she should immediately go to the hospital because medications that delay childbirth can be taken.
Find out about the possible causes of premature labor by clicking here.
What to do to prevent premature birth
To prevent premature birth, what the pregnant woman can do throughout pregnancy is to avoid excessive physical activity and follow all the guidelines that the doctor gives during prenatal consultations.
However, if delivery begins before the expected time, the obstetrician may recommend the use of medications such as corticosteroids or oxytocin antagonists, which can be used between 25 and 37 weeks of gestation. These techniques to prevent premature birth must be done while in hospital and applied according to the benefits for the mother and baby. Find out what the complications of childbirth can be ahead of time.
Premature babies usually need to be hospitalized until they strengthen their health and are discharged. So see what you can do to care for your baby while still in the hospital and also at home by clicking here.
