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Premature Labour: What to Do if it Happens to You

This page was reviewed or revised on Monday, January 19, 2004.

What is it?

Premature, or preterm labour is labour that starts after the 20th week of pregnancy but before the 37th week.

How will I know?

If you have some of these signs, you could be in premature labour:

• contractions every 10 minutes or more often
• menstrual cramps in your lower tummy
• a dull ache in your lower back
• pressure that feels like the baby is pushing down
• a crampy feeling in your bowels with or without diarrhea
• bleeding, leaking or a discharge from your vagina (more than usual or with a change in consistency or colour)

What Should I Do?

If you feel like you’re having any of these signs or symptoms, you should:

• lie down on your side, and place a pillow behind your back for support
• check for contractions for 1 hour
• if you have contractions, time them from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next one

Call your caregiver, or go to the hospital if:

• you have regular contractions every 10 minutes or more often for 1 hour; or
• you have any of the above signs or symptoms for 1 hour; or
• you have any spotting or leaking of fluid from your vagina.