Preterm labor (or premature labor) is labor that occurs between the 20th and 37th week of pregnancy. A full-term pregnancy lasts 38 to 42 weeks. True labor includes both uterine contractions and cervical changes. Preterm labor can lead to preterm delivery. Babies who are born before 38 weeks are premature.

Fetus at 24 Weeks

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Preterm labor does not always lead to preterm delivery. Preterm labor can sometimes be stopped with a combination of medication and rest. If preterm labor cannot be stopped, your doctor will try to delay delivery. During this delay, you may be given drugs to speed up the baby’s lung development. You may also be brought to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Preterm birth is the number one cause of perinatal sickness and death. About 8% to 10% of births in the United States are premature; this translates to one in every eight births. Preterm babies have less time to develop in the womb. As a result, they're at higher risk of medical problems. They are also at greater risk for death than babies born full term. The earlier a baby is born, the greater the risks. Babies born before 28 weeks are at greatest risk for health and developmental issues. These issues include:

Babies born between 28 and 30 weeks are at lower risk for complications, compared to those born prior to 28 weeks. Those born between 32 and 35 weeks usually have only short-term medical problems. The outlook for all preterm infants continues to improve with medical advances.

Often, the cause of preterm labor is not clear. However, several factors have been identified that increase the risk. It is essential for all pregnant women to know the signs of preterm labor. The quicker you are able to respond to these signs, the better chance that your doctor can delay or prevent preterm delivery.

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