Preterm Labor & Birth: Signs, Symptoms, & Options
Show Notes:
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Thank you so much for that incredible review. It sounds like things are going well postpartum. This was a pretty positive, even though you had your baby at 33 weeks. I have a Mother's Day baby myself, and it's quite honestly the best. I can't think of a better gift to get on Mother's Day. 💜
[2:50] Recently, I asked you guys on Instagram for podcast topics, and preterm labor came up! I'm going to dive into questions like what is it, who's at risk for it, what the symptoms are, and what can I do if I find out I have it?
[3:44] What is preterm labor? Preterm labor is sometimes called premature labor and can occur any time after 20 weeks but before 37 weeks. Preterm labor can fall within 20 to 37 weeks. Late preterm labor is from 34 to 36 weeks. During the late preterm labor stage, baby may or may not need NICU time. It just depends on your specific situation. Not all preterm labor ends in preterm birth. If you are before the 37 week mark and go into the hospital, chances are, the hospital will try to stop your labor to allow baby more time in the womb. If you go in after 37 weeks, they will take some things into consideration and try to decide if this is something that needs to be stopped and, and what else can be done.
[6:02] What are some risk factors? Preterm labor can happen for no apparent reason. If you are pregnant with multiples, you're more at risk for preterm birth. Factors such as a short cervix, uterine abnormalities, lifestyle (being on your feet all the time), smoking, drinking, drugs, stress, etc. can also put you at risk for preterm labor. Being younger than 18 and older than 35 can also be a factor. Recurring bladder and kidney infections can also bring on preterm labor. Other factors include:
- Vaginal infections or STDs
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding at 20 weeks.
- Chronic illness such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, or diabetes.
- Multiple first trimester abortions or any second trimester abortions
- Underweight or overweight prior to pregnancy
- IVF pregnancies
- Short amount of time between pregnancies
- Premature rupture of membranes
[11:11] A question we received from Instagram was "What are the chances of labor with the polyhydramnios diagnosis and then what's the risk of it reoccurring?" Polyhydramnios is when you have too much amniotic fluid, which is kind of crazy to think that that can be a thing. Baby has more space and can move more before birth, then you have that risk of they can get into all those really fun, funky positions. There's about a 20% risk for moms going into preterm labor that have this condition. It's rare to get polyhydraminos again after having it the first time.
[15:43] How can I prevent and reduce risks of preterm labor? Maintaining a healthy weight is number one. Eating a high protein, well-balanced diet, and drinking lots of water, taking your prenatal vitamin, moving your body for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day will also help. Make sure you're checking in with a provider, checking in with yourself and how your body's feeling.
[19:14] Aubrey on Instagram said "I've read bedrest doesn't prevent it. I'd love to know more about this!" After doing a little more research, ACOG states that bed rest is not recommended if you're at risk of preterm birth. Bedrest can increase the risk of blood clots, bone weakening, and loss of muscle strength. Doing partial bedrest and laying on your left side can be more beneficial!
[20:55] What are signs and symptoms of preterm labor? If you are having five or more contractions in an hour, not a Braxton Hicks, could be a concern. It should not be painful but feel like pressure. If you're having any water or fluid leaking from your vagina., if you have abdominal cramps, and an increase in vaginal discharge, take note.
[26:04] If you go in for preterm labor, what can you expect for management and treatment? They can hook you up to monitors. They want to be able to check your belly and check if you're having any contractions and check on baby. They want to check heart rates, check your blood pressure, and your urine. They will also want to do a pelvic exam and test any leaking fluids. An ultrasound will also be recommended.
[26:59] Another question we've received from a birth course student is: "I wanted to know about the interventions offered benefits and risks of steroid injections and magnesium, as well as pushing antibiotics for GBS since it was too early to test." If you're experiencing preterm labor, then your provider is gonna do all that they can to stop labor from progressing and to help speed up baby's development. Your provider will recommend steroids for your baby to speed up the development of baby's lungs. They're typically given, if you are between 24 to 34 weeks, but they can also be given up to 36 weeks and six days.
[31:26] Side effects from tocolytics include chest pain with an irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, diarrhea and nausea, low blood pressure, feeling faint or dizzy, and a headache or double vision.
[31:51] - If you have preterm labor, your provider will recommend antibiotics whether you have been tested for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) or not.
[33:28] What happens if labor can't be stopped and your baby is born premature? A baby that's at 36 weeks when they're born is gonna spend a lot less time or maybe no time in the NICU.
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