Symptoms of premature labour
You should call your midwife or the maternity unit straight away if you think you are in early labour. It may be a false alarm, but it’s best to get in touch.
What are the signs of premature labour?
Before 37 weeks it is of concern if you experience
- regular contractions
- period-type pains or pressure in your vaginal area
- a "show" – when the plug of mucus that has sealed the cervix during pregnancy comes away and out of the vagina
- a gush or trickle of fluid from your vagina – this could be your waters breaking
- backache
Contact a midwife immediately if:
- you are bleeding
- your baby is moving less than usual
- your waters have broken and they are smelly or coloured