A Simple Alternative To Detect The Signs Of Preterm Labor

Why It Is Important To Understand The Signs Of Preterm Labor

There is a great difference between induced preterm labor and spontaneous preterm labor for obvious reasons. The point of this article is to describe in detail the signs of spontaneous preterm labor, the risks associated with it and the medical options available.

A normal labor lasts 37 weeks. The closer a labor is to such a period, the higher the chances that the baby will come out healthy. In certain instances though it is simply preferred to force a preterm labor, due to the precarious condition of the mother’s or baby’s health. This is usually performed through a cesarian section or by drugs that trigger contractions.

Understanding and identifying the signs of spontaneous preterm labor becomes crucial in this light as there are medical alternatives to either delay the moment of birth or apply medication which help the baby become healthier.

Early Signs Of Preterm Labor

Identifying the early signs of preterm is extremely difficult and unreliable and they are only showed by medical tests. There are two such tests available at this moment. Although a positive test doesn’t usually guarantee a preterm labor bur rather indicate a high risk, a negative quite clearly indicates that the risks of a preterm labor are very low. This can act as a reassurance for the mother in the case pf a negative response or help the physician take appropriate measures to ensure the health of both mother and child.

There are also some other signs that can indicate a high risk of preterm labor. Having twins or a higher multiple of babies can cause it together with a few medical conditions can be treated as signs of preterm labor. Such conditions include genital tract deformations or infections, chronic diseases (diabetes, severe asthma, non genital infections and so on). Your physician can assess the risks based on your medical history, so it is imperative that you do a thorough medical check up to understand the risks associated with your labor.

Physical Signs Of Preterm Labor

The signs of preterm labor appearing just before the delivery itself are rather straightforward, but quite often they can be misleading as they can easily be mistaken with phenomena appearing during a normal labor. The strongest symptom, which cannot be mistaken with a normal labor is the appearance or increase of vaginal discharge, either blood or amniotic fluid. Contractions are also a strong indication, but only if they occur more than once every 10 minutes. This is a particularly misleading symptom as contractions are rather normal. Also an increased pressure in the lower area might be considered as one of the signs of preterm labor. Less noticeable signs include the appearance of a continuous backache of a moderate intensity and cramps.

If such symptoms appear do not hesitate to contact your physician, also it is indicated that you stop any current activity and lay down on a side and drink plenty of fluids like water and juice, certainly not coffee or soda.

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