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The Most Important Things You Need To Know About A Pre-Term Delivery
By Candace Hurley
If you delivered a preterm baby in an earlier pregnancy, you're at much greater risk for preterm delivery the next time around.

A MESSAGE TO ALL PREGNANT WOMEN: Here are the two most important things you need to know about preterm delivery.

1. It can happen to you and it can happen again.
2. You can reduce your risk.

Let's get the bad news out of the way first. It seems cruel to tell a pregnant woman her 'ideal' pregnancy may end in preterm delivery and the truth is that the vast majority of pregnancies - about 88% -- will end with a healthy mother and baby. Perhaps this is why many healthcare providers are reluctant to talk to patients about the risk of preterm delivery.

It's been my experience, however, that women do not collapse when they are given information that helps them improve their babies chances for a healthy start in life.

The fact is that that half the women who deliver before the 36 weeks gestation appear to be having the 'ideal' pregnancy. It is tragic if these women are not provided information and resources that can make the difference between babies requiring a little extra help at birth and babies who need long term intensive care for life threatening complications.

What you can do to reduce risk for your baby

So, what do you need to know even if everything is going perfectly?

• Know the signs and symptoms of preterm labor.
• Know the lifestyle and behaviors can increase the chances of developing preterm labor.
• Know what kind of testing can be done to help identify risk
• Know how preterm labor can be identified and treated in time to reduce newborn complications.

Signs and symptoms of preterm labor

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms after your 20th week of pregnancy, notify your doctor or midwife immediately. Don't wait. Don't worry others will think you're "over-reacting". For your baby's sake, it's better to let your healthcare team decide if preterm labor is developing.

Signs and Symptoms of preterm Labor

• Regular uterine contractions or tightening sensation in stomach (often painless)
• Continuous or intermittent menstrual-like cramps (constant or occasional)
• Low, dull backache
• Pelvic pressure
• Abdominal cramping, with or without diarrhea
• Increase or change in vaginal discharge
• A nagging feeling that something is not right

Lifestyle and behaviors that increase risk of developing preterm labor

There are many lifestyle and behavioral factors that increase a woman's risk for preterm delivery. Ask your doctor or midwife to help you identify changes you can make and resources in the community that can help you succeed. Here are some of the more common contributors to risk.

• Physical or emotional stress
• Depression or mood disorder
• Smoking
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Financial hardship
• Physical or emotional abuse

Often women who have a hard time changing unhealthy situations for themselves become highly motivated to do so for the sake of the babies.

Know what kind of testing can be done to help identify risk

Recently, methods of testing for risk of preterm labor have been approved by the FDA and accepted as a covered benefit by many insurers. Ask your doctor if you should be tested for risk during your third trimester. If you test negative, it is not a guarantee that preterm labor will not develop and you may need to be re-tested several weeks later if you are considered a 'high risk' patient. If you test positive, your physician may want you modify your work or lifestyle situation and see you more often.

Identifying and Treating preterm Labor

We hear a lot about preventing preterm delivery but it is unlikely there will ever be a sure fire way to ensure every pregnancy reaches 40 weeks gestation.

The good news is that a newborn's health problems can be greatly reduced and sometimes eliminated completely by extending pregnancy to as close to 36 weeks gestation as possible. And this is a goal high risk mothers are reaching every single day.

In most cases, preterm labor can be treated if it is identified early. Treatment may include bedrest, hydration and drug therapy to stop the progression of labor to delivery. Detection may include the use of a home uterine activity monitor (HUAM). All this intervention may not be any woman's idea of a good time but take it from all of us at Sidelines - it can be the very best gift you ever give your child. Read more about treatments, tests, and technologies when you visit our Web site: www.sidelines.org

We have supported tens of thousands of women who delivered healthy babies before 40 weeks gestation. The reason their babies did not have serious, lasting health problems is because their doctors were able to extend their pregnancies for weeks after preterm labor began.

Here's What It Comes Down To

If you delivered a preterm baby in an earlier pregnancy, you're at much greater risk for preterm delivery the next time around. Seek care from a perinatal expert.

If you are having an 'ideal' pregnancy, enjoy it fully. You have every reason to be optimistic and every reason to be an informed, aware and involved patient. Since no pregnancy comes with a risk-free guarantee, your baby is counting on you to pay attention every step of the way.

Candace Hurley is the founder and Executive Director of Sidelines National Support Network, a national, nonprofit organization providing volunteer services to women with high risk pregnancies. She lives in Southern California with her husband Brian, and sons Kelan and Braeden.