What should you know about preterm labour treatment?

The team may check contractions, your cervix, your temperature, fetal wellbeing and whether your waters have broken. Treatment depends on gestational age, infection concerns, bleeding, cervical change and the health of you and your baby. A medicine that slows contractions may sometimes create time for other care, but it is not suitable in every situation.

An antenatal corticosteroid injection may be offered when early birth is possible because it helps prepare the baby's lungs. A cervical cerclage is a stitch used in selected pregnancies when the cervix is opening too early; it is not a routine response to established labour.

Contact your maternity unit promptly if you have regular tightenings, pelvic pressure, lower backache, bleeding or fluid loss before your expected due date. Note when symptoms began, how often tightenings occur and the colour or smell of any fluid. Take your maternity records and medication list if you attend hospital.

Treatment can include monitoring, fluids when needed, antibiotics when infection or ruptured membranes are a concern, and discussion with a neonatal team. Ask what each medicine is intended to do and whether the plan changes if labour continues.

Seek urgent maternity assessment for fluid leaking from the vagina, vaginal bleeding, painful or regular contractions, fever, chills, severe abdominal pain, or reduced fetal movement. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe. Call emergency services if you feel very unwell, faint, have heavy bleeding or believe birth is imminent.

Ask: Has my cervix changed? Have my waters broken? Is infection suspected? What is the purpose and timing of each medicine? Should I meet the neonatal team? What symptoms mean I should return immediately?