Premature labour
Twins and multiples
Twins and triplets are often born prematurely. The average delivery date for twins is 37 weeks, and 33 weeks for triplets.
If you have any reason to think that your labour may be starting early, contact your hospital straight away.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 26 Feb 2018
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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