Avoid Having Your Baby Too Early: Your Guide to Preterm Labor and Birth
Preterm birth is a common challenge that impacts millions of families around the world every year. A baby born before 37 weeks of pregnancy is called preterm or premature. About 1 of every 10 babies are born prematurely, globally and in the US (WHO; CDC). Babies who are born too early are more likely to have health issues than those who are born at full-term. Many of these babies require special medical care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
When you avoid a preterm birth, your baby has the time it needs to grow and develop in your womb and is more likely to be healthy and strong when it is born. It is important to understand that not all preterm births can be avoided, but some can. Knowing if you might be at risk, understanding warning signs, and working with your healthcare team to practice healthy behaviors can make a big difference.
In this blog post, you will learn about the difference between preterm labor and preterm birth, common causes and signs of preterm labor and birth, potential health issues and treatments for preterm babies, and how you can give yourself and your baby the best chance for a full-term pregnancy.
The Difference Between Preterm Labor and Preterm Birth
Usually, a pregnancy lasts about 39 to 40 weeks—this is called a full-term pregnancy. If you go into labor before 37 weeks, that is called preterm labor. Similarly, if you have your baby before 37 weeks, that is called preterm birth.
Sometimes, preterm labor will start and then stop by itself. But, often, medical treatment is needed to prevent a preterm birth. If you think you are going into labor early, it is important to visit your healthcare provider immediately. Your healthcare provider can examine you and determine if you are in preterm labor. During this exam, they may use different machines to examine your baby, your womb and birth canal, and they may swab your vagina and ask you to give a urine sample. If your healthcare provider confirms you are in preterm labor, they may be able to manage it.
Preterm births are not always caused by preterm labor. Sometimes a healthcare provider may recommend their patient deliver their baby early. This usually only happens if the patient has a health condition that makes them or their baby very sick or puts their life or the life of their baby at risk if they stay pregnant longer.
Common Causes of Preterm Labor and Birth
Health experts do not always know the exact cause for preterm labor and birth. But studies have found that there are a few health conditions and lifestyle factors that can increase your risk. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the National Institutes ofHealth (NIH), you may have a higher risk of preterm labor and birth if you:
- Had a preterm birth previously
- Are carrying twins, triplets, or more
- Gave birth to your last baby recently, specifically if you became pregnant less than six months after your last baby was born
- Got pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF)
- Have an infection in your reproductive organs, such as a reproductive or urinary tract infection or a sexually transmitted infection
- Have a long-term health condition, like diabetes or high blood pressure
- Have a short cervix or if you have had a previous medical procedure on your cervix
- Have vaginal bleeding
- Are younger than 17 or older than 34
- Were either underweight or overweight before you got pregnant
- Use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs during your pregnancy
Your environment and the people around you can also increase your risk. For instance, are being abuse (physically or emotionally), dealing with nonstop stress, not having a support system to help you through your pregnancy, and being exposed to some environmental pollutants, can increase your risk. If feeling really sad or worried—because of an abusive situation, stress, or for another reason—talk to your healthcare provider. They can help you find ways to cope with your situation. This will also help them understand your overall health and well-being, so they can provide the best care for your needs.
In the US, if you are Black, you are twice as likely to have a preterm birth compared to your White peers. Other minorities and people in low-income communities are also more at risk. This is because these groups of people are more likely to experience long-term stress, to experience obstacles in accessing care on a regular basis, and to face providers who (on purpose or without knowing) do not provide the same high-level of care that they would for White patients, especially White patients with higher incomes.
Signs of Preterm Labor
There are several common signs of preterm labor. It is important to know what these signs are and to contact your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any of these.
- Stomach cramps, like period cramps, with or without diarrhea
- Back pain that won’t go away
- Frequent contractions, which may be painless
- Feeling like something is pressing on your belly or pelvis
- Vaginal discharge that maybe watery, bloody, or have a strong odor
- A sudden gush or trickle of fluid from the vagina
Possible Health Issues in Preterm Babies
Babies born prematurely are more likely to be born with a low birth weight (less than 5 pounds, 8ounces, or 2.5 kilograms) and to have certain health conditions. This is because they are born before their bodies developed fully. Common health conditions in premature babies include:
Blood conditions, including anemia (when the baby does not have enough red blood cells to give their body the oxygen it needs to function) and jaundice (when high levels of bilirubin build up in the baby’s blood, causing the skin and eyes to look yellow).
Brain and spine conditions, such as bleeding in the brain and meningitis (when there is swelling around the brain and spinal cord). These can lead to brain damage, hearing loss, and other disabilities if they are not treated or managed.
Breathing conditions, like apnea (when the baby stops breathing for 20 second or more at a time) and pneumonia (an infection of the lungs). These are common in preterm babies because their lungs have not fully developed.
Digestive conditions, which can sometimes be very serious and make it hard for your baby to feed.
Heart conditions and heart disease.
Other infections, including urinary tract infection sand sepsis (when the body works too hard to fight an infection and starts attacking healthy organs).
Preterm babies are also more likely to develop other conditions during childhood. The most common conditions include cerebral palsy, hearing and vision issues, learning disabilities, and social and emotional developmental delays.
Preterm labor and birth can also affect your mental health. For example, people who have gone through preterm labor are more likely to have anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Struggling with mental health can make it hard to bond with your baby.
Treatment for Preterm Babies
Many preterm babies need special care and are placed in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) where specialists can provide round-the-clock treatment and support. Whether a baby will need to go to a NICU and how long they need to stay in a NICU depends on how early they were born and how serious their health conditions are. Some babies may only need to stay in the NICU for a couple of days but others may need to stay for a couple of months or more. Similarly, some babies may only need to be monitored to be sure they are healthy but others may need surgery to treat more serious health conditions.
While NICUs offer important, life-saving care, they are also very expensive—even for families who have insurance. It can also be very stressful to have a baby in the NICU. You can learn more about NICUs in our previous blog post, NICU101: How Healthy Pregnancies Support Health Babies.
How to Reduce Your Risk of Preterm Labor and Birth
Not all preterm births can be avoided, but you can take steps to lower your risk. Here are a few things you can do now to prevent a preterm birth later:
Make healthy choices: Eat a balanced diet so you can give your baby the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong. Do not use alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs while you are pregnant, as these can affect your baby’s growth and development.
Prioritize your mental health: Try to develop coping skills to deal with stressful situations. Anxiety and depression are common during and after pregnancy. If you are feeling worried or sad a lot, talk to your doctor—they can help you get the care and support you need.
See your healthcare provider regularly: Go to all of your antenatal appointments. These appointments give your healthcare provider a chance to check on your health and your baby’s development by examining you and by testing for common infections and other health issues. They can also talk to you about your risk level for common health conditions, explain warning signs, and help you make plans to prevent or manage conditions before they become serious.
Watch out for warning signs: Knowing what is normal during pregnancy and what may be a sign of a health issue is key. And, noticing an issue and seeking care quickly can help prevent a small problem from becoming serious. If you notice signs of preterm labor, contact your healthcare provider immediately. They may be able to help prevent the labor from advancing to preterm birth.
How BobiHealth Can Help
When you pay attention to your body and keep track of your vitals and how you are feeling, you can identify early signs that something may be off. Identifying a health condition early and immediately seeking treatment can prevent a minor issue from becoming a serious complication. Digital health tools, like BobiHealth, can help you track your symptoms, identify potential health conditions, and connect with your healthcare provider as soon as you notice a potential issue. Seeking care immediately and sharing the health information that you have been tracking gives your healthcare team the best chance to deliver the best treatment for your unique situation.
While many pregnancy apps only track kick counts and weight gain, BobiHealth allows you to track these and much more. For instance, with the Bobi app, you can track vital signs, like blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature—either by entering the data into the app yourself or by connecting the app to your smart watch for automatic updates. Further, the app will remind you to report symptoms that may be signs of health issues. For example, you can log:
Pain and discomfort: Cramps, back pain, and pressure in the belly or pelvic region are all signs of preterm labor. These may also be signs of reproductive and urinary tract infections, which can increase your risk of preterm labor.
Vaginal discharge and bleeding: Some types of vaginal discharge and bleeding are common with preterm labor. They can also be signs of infection, which can increase your risk of preterm labor.
Urinary issues: Urinary issues, like feeling a burning sensation or pain when you pee, are often associated with urinary tract infections as well as some sexually transmitted infections—and both can increase your risk of preterm labor.
BobiHealth will remind you to log your vitals and symptoms regularly and then uses this information to alert you to contact your healthcare provider if there may be an issue. But it is important that you enter your vitals and symptoms regularly and correctly in order for the app to be able to identify these changes. It is also important to remember that while digital health tools can help you identify symptoms of potential health issues related to preterm labor and delivery, they cannot prevent all case of preterm labor and delivery, and they do not replace the need for regular visits with your healthcare provider.
Being able to track your health at home is particularly helpful if you are not able to get to your healthcare provider easily, for instance if the nearest health facility is far away or if you have trouble taking time off work or getting transportation to the health facility. But the app does not replace the need to see your healthcare provider regularly. Use the app in addition to your regular health appointments so that together you and your care team can make the best decisions for you and your baby.
Take the Next Step Now
The idea of preterm labor and birth can be scary, but knowledge is a powerful tool. Understanding your risk level, understanding and watching for warning signs, and knowing when to seek help is key. These are all simple but important steps that can help you have a full-term pregnancy and help you give your baby a healthy start.
Save this article now and share it with your partner. Then, download the BobiHealth App and start monitoring your health today.
Useful Terms
Here are definitions of a few terms we will use in this blog. It may be helpful to read these definitions so you know what they mean if your healthcare provider uses these words with you.
Anemia: Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and your body uses that oxygen to function. Anemia happens when either there are not enough red blood cells or the red blood cells do not have enough protein to give the rest of your body the oxygen it needs. This can make you feel weak or tired, make it hard to breathe, make you feel dizzy or unsteady, cause you to have pale skin, and/or make your hands and feet cold. Anemia is usually treated with medication(iron supplements) but very serious cases may need blood transfusions.
Apnea: Infant apnea happens when the baby stops breathing for at least 20 seconds. This is more common with premature babies and can look like the baby is gasping for air or snoring. Treatment depends on the seriousness of the apnea and can range from medication to breathing machines to surgery.
Cervix: The cervix is the part of the birth canal that connects the uterus (or womb) with the vagina.During pregnancy, the cervix closes to protect the baby and then opens, or dilates, during labor to allow the baby to pass through.
Full-term pregnancy: A full-term pregnancy lasts about 39 to 40 weeks. Babies who are born full term have the best chances of being healthy.
Jaundice: Jaundice is common condition in babies. Jaundice happens when the liver does not clean the blood well enough to remove a yellow-colored substance called bilirubin. The buildup of this yellow substance in the blood causes the eyes and skin to look yellow. Treatment depends on the seriousness of the jaundice. The most common treatment is light therapy (placing the baby under special blue lights) but fora serious case, a patient might need to have a procedure to either remove some of their blood and replace it with healthy blood or to have antibodies from healthy blood injected into their blood.
Meningitis: Meningitis happens when the membranes around the brain and spinal cord swell because of an infection. Common symptoms are a high fever, a really bad headache, and a stiff neck. Meningitis is very serious, but can often be treated with medication.
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs): NICUs, also known as intensive care nurseries, are special areas in a hospital or birthing center that provide extra care for newborns with serious health conditions. Read our blog, NICU101: How Healthy Pregnancies Support Health Babies, to learn more.
Pneumonia: Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can make breathing hard. Common symptoms include a cough and fever, wheezing, or sluggish feeling. Pneumonia can become very serious if it is not treated, but it can be treated with medication.
Premature, prematurely, preterm: Babies that are born before the 37th week of pregnancy are born prematurely and are called premature or preterm babies. You may have also heard the word “preemie” used, which is short for premature.
Preterm labor: Labor that takes place earlier than it should, usually before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Preterm birth: A preterm birth is a birth that takes place earlier than it should, usually before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Reproductive tract infection (RTI): A reproductive tract infection, or RTI, is an infection of any of the organs involved in reproduction, such as the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and vagina. These infections do not always have noticeable signs, but they can affect a pregnancy, so testing during pregnancy is important.
Sexually transmitted infection (STI): A sexually transmitted infection, or STI, is an infection that is typically passed through sexual contact. There are many different kinds of STIs, and many do not have noticeable signs, which is why testing is important. STIs can lead to complications for a pregnant person, and they can be passed to a baby during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
Sepsis: Sepsis happens when the body overreacts to an infection. Instead of only attacking infection, the immune system (which prevents and fights infection) attacks healthy organs.Sepsis can become life-threatening if it is not treated. Treatment usually involves medication and fluids, but in severe cases may require surgery.
Urinary tract infection (UTI): A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection of any of part of the urinary system, such as the bladder, kidney, and urethra. Common signs of a UTI include pain or a burning feeling when peeing and feeling a need to pee all the time. UTIs can be treated with medication, and they can become serious and affect a pregnancy if they are not treated.
