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Can I Prevent Preterm Labor and Birth?

The most important thing you can do to try to have a healthy baby is to get early and adequate prenatal care. In fact, the best prenatal care begins even before you are pregnant. That way, you can be sure that you are in the best of health before pregnancy.

Other interventions that may be helpful are to reduce your stress level. Set aside some quiet time every day and ask for help when needed. Researchers have also found a link between gum disease and preterm birth, so brush and floss your teeth daily. If you smoke, quit. Smoking can trigger preterm labor.

Your practitioner will check you for risk factors of premature delivery and discuss which precautions you should take. Measuring the length of the cervix using a special transvaginal ultrasound probe can help predict a woman's risk of delivering prematurely. This is usually done in the doctor's office between 20 and 28 weeks of pregnancy if necessary.

Fetal fibronectin is a test that can be used as a possible predictor of preterm labor. This test is done like a pap smear and its result is used in predicting your risk of preterm labor. It can't tell you for sure if you are in labor, but it can tell you if you're not. A woman at increased risk for premature delivery can be forewarned about what to do if symptoms occur, and may undergo further screening tests.

If you think that your water broke, call your provider right away or go to the hospital. If you think that you are experiencing preterm contractions, you should stop what you are doing, go to the bathroom to empty your bladder, and then lie down on your left side. You should drink two glasses of water and juice, and try to relax. Many times, women are able to stop contractions by making sure that they are well hydrated and resting. If you continue to have four or more contractions per hour, call your health-care provider.