Premature labour
Symptoms
Signs of premature labour
The signs of premature labour can be similar to the signs of labour that starts at full term, and may include:
- contractions
- period-type pains
- a "show" (when the plug of mucus that has sealed the cervix during pregnancy comes away and out of the vagina)
- breaking of the waters (rupture of membranes) – this can be a gush or a trickle backache
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 26 Feb 2018
Articles for premature labour
Symptoms
The signs of premature labour can be similar to the signs of labour that starts at full term, and may include: contractions, period-type pains, breaking of the waters, etc.
If your waters haven't broken
Your midwife or doctor should discuss with you the symptoms of pre-term labour, and offer checks to see if you're in labour.
What are the risks to my baby of being born early?
Babies born before full term (before 37 weeks) are vulnerable to problems associated with being born premature. The earlier in the pregnancy a baby is born, the more vulnerable they are.
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