When you have regular contractions before your 37 weeks of pregnancy, and if you deliver your baby before due date, then you have pre term labor and birth. They can be both intentional and spontaneous.

Some reasons for the latter are:

1. Genital tract infections, like chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis
2. Placenta problems, such as placenta previa or placental abruption
3. Structural abnormalities of the uterus or cervix
4. Other diseases like sickle cell anemia, diabetes, severe asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic active hepatitis, or lupus and non-uterine infections, like abdominal surgery, kidney infection, a gum infection (periodontitis), and trauma to the abdomen can cause pre term labor and birth.

Risk factors:

1. If you are pregnant with twins or higher number multiples
2. Not in the age group of 17-35yrs
3. Not much, gain in weight during pregnancy or before it.
4. Smoking, alcohol abuse, or drug use during pregnancy
5. Gave birth in the last 18 months
6. High levels of stress (physical and mental)
7. Genetic factors

Symptoms:

1. An increased vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding or spotting
2. Abdominal pain, cramps, or more than four contractions in one hour
3. Increased pressure in the pelvic area
4. Low back pain

These symptoms are often confusing, as some of them, like the pelvic pressure or low back pain, occur during normal pregnancies too.

Tests to know if you are at risk:

1. Measuring the length of your cervix
2. Fetal fibronectin screening

However, if you get plenty of rest, eat well, see your doctor regularly, take proper hygiene and dental care and manage your stress level, you automatically ensure a healthy full term pregnancy.

Every aspect of pregnancy – symptoms, labor-pain and childbirth, et al – is an altogether different story. Yet, there are certain underlying similarities between them and they exhibit some common signs. The same can be said of the signs of labor.

The first and foremost sign of labor is the Braxton Hicks contractions. At term, 37 weeks or more, an expecting mother starts having frequent and regular contractions. Although these contractions start pretty early towards the beginning of the third trimester, they tend to become stronger in intensity and stay longer when the true labor starts.

The contractions, in effect, cause the cervix to dilate, easing childbirth. This process has been medically termed as the ripening of the cervix and is characterized by the softening as well as thinning out of the cervix.

In the advanced stage, the baby drops lower into the pelvis (some women even experience this dropping). Consequently, a pregnant woman experiences an increased pressure in the pelvic region.

Mucus discharge is another symptom of labor. Sometimes the mucus has hints of blood in it and appears a bit brownish, pink, or even red.

Water break, leakage of the amniotic fluid, is rather an alarming sign of labor! It is a cause of great concern for both the mother’s and the baby’s well being – the mother is at the risk of developing infection and the child may be adversely affected. This as well as a drop in the baby’s activity in the womb should signal a quick consultation with the gynecologist.