Premature labour contractions: what to know

A contraction can feel like the abdomen becoming firm and then relaxing. Preterm labour may also present with pelvic pressure, period-like cramps, a dull low backache, vaginal bleeding or fluid loss. Braxton Hicks tightenings can be irregular and may ease, but the pattern cannot be safely judged at home when pregnancy is still preterm.

Maternity clinicians assess the timing and strength of tightenings alongside cervical change and the baby’s wellbeing. Read about [Preterm Labour](/conditions/preterm-labour/).

Stop what you are doing, rest on your side, and contact your maternity unit for instructions. Record when each tightening starts and how long it lasts, without delaying the call. Tell the team about fluid, bleeding, pain, fever, urinary symptoms and changes in fetal movement.

At hospital, monitoring and examination guide treatment. Your team may discuss an [Antenatal Steroid Injection](/treatments/pregnancy-and-birth-care/antenatal-corticosteroid-injection/) or, in a specific cervical situation, [Cervical Cerclage](/treatments/pregnancy-and-birth-care/cervical-cerclage/).

Call urgently for contractions that become regular or stronger, bleeding, a gush or trickle of fluid, severe pain, fever, faintness, or reduced fetal movement. If you cannot reach your maternity service or feel seriously unwell, use emergency services. Do not wait for contractions to become unbearable.

Ask how your contractions are being monitored, whether your cervix is changing, whether your waters are intact, how the baby is coping, and which symptoms should prompt immediate return after discharge.