It is always important to understand what is meant by "pre-term". In the hospital setting, it is often explained that anything after 20 weeks gestation, and prior to 37 weeks gestation constitutes "pre-term". It is important that if you are pregnant, and you are suspecting that you may be experiencing contractions during this "pre-term" time frame, that you seek out your care provider to determine 1) if you are truly having pre-term contractions, 2) if those contractions are causing changes to your cervix (like having it open or dilate prematurely-which can lead to pre-term labor), and 3) if your baby is safe. Your health care provider will be able to assess this using touch to your abdomen, fetal monitoring devices, and cervical examination. It is very important during this "pre-term" time, that you report any time you experience more than 4 contractions in a one hour, . Seeking medical attention early will help you learn about how your body is responding to your pregnancy, and assist your caregiver in knowing how best to plan your prenatal care.
Pregnancy Complications
Complications can fall into the category that is harmful to the baby and/or harmful to the mother. Many women develop gestational diabetes, which only affects the mother. Preeclampsia, which elevates the blood pressure of the mother during pregnancy, can be harmful to both mother and baby. Ectopic pregnancies can put both the mother and baby at risk when the embryo attaches to the fallopian tube, instead of moving to the uterus.
Miscarriages or premature births can also happen to pregnant women with certain risk factors. When going through labor, progress can slow, causing distress for the baby and mother. In some cases, a C-section is needed to keep from causing harm to both the baby and mother.
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Dr. Daniel R. Spogen, MD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family MedicineSee All 2 AnswersYou can help prevent anemia during pregnancy by taking a daily prenatal vitamin with iron. It is also important to see an obstetrician during your pregnancy to be tested for anemia and treated appropriately if needed.
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Anyone can go into labor early—but certain women are at higher risk. In this video, Dr. Ashley Briggs describes the woman who is most likely to deliver prematurely.
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Dr. Kevin S. Jensen, MD , OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of St. Mark's Hospital
In this video, Kevin Jensen, MD, from St. Mark's Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates, says that most placental abruptions most often occur in the later trimesters. Learn more about the condition in this video.
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Dr. Kevin S. Jensen, MD , OBGYN (Obstetrics & Gynecology), answered on behalf of St. Mark's HospitalSee All 4 Answers
Pregnancy-induced hypertension can be basic as high blood pressure to more serious issues like preeclampsia. In this video, Kevin Jensen, MD, from St. Mark's Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates, explains the condition.
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See All 5 AnswersEarly labor (or premature labor) in pregnancy is a time when the uterus is contracting but not making a lot of process towards the delivery. Contractions may be far apart, they may be short, and they may be more of a pressure sensation than a painful sensation. A lot of women experience the pain in their back and in their legs more than in their abdomen and pelvis. The contractions are generally five to ten minutes apart and last thirty to sixty seconds. At this point, the labor can stop, because it's early and may be called a false labor.
If it is a true labor, then it continues to increase in intensity over a period of time until you get to what we call active labor, where the contractions are two to three minutes apart, and each contraction lasts for about sixty seconds and it is felt throughout the woman's body. Her heart rate increases, the uterus becomes tight and painful, she feels it in her back, in her legs and her pelvis.
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Placental abruption is the separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before the birth of the baby. Once the placenta begins to detach from the uterine wall, the flow of oxygen and nutrients through the umbilical cord and to the baby is interrupted.
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The symptoms of placental abruption are acute, intense abdominal pain, uterine tenderness, sudden change in uterine contraction pattern and fetal distress. The abdomen becomes board-like as blood fills the abdominal cavity. Vaginal bleeding may or may not be present. Other symptoms are signs of shock, decreased urinary output and fetal demise.