All pregnant women need to be aware of the signs of premature labor. The problem with watching for these signs is that they are fairly common in a large number of normal healthy women. It can be difficult for both the woman herself and even for her provider to determine which symptoms are worthy of concern. The diagnosis of premature labor is made by the combination of persistent uterine contractions with dilation of the cervix. Many women have the misperception that they can tell the difference between false labor and real labor by how painful the contractions are or by how frequently they occur. Unfortunately this isn’t always true. False labor, also called Braxton Hicks contractions, can closely mimic real or premature labor. Although Braxton Hicks contractions are typically infrequent, irregular, go away with rest, and only mildly uncomfortable, they can at times be very frequent, painful, and regular. The true definition of Braxton Hicks contractions is that they do not result in cervical change and do not lead to true labor.
As a rule of thumb, a woman should be concerned if she is having contractions more frequently than every 10 minutes (more than 6 per hour); if these contractions continue for more than 2 hours; and if the woman is between 20 and 36 weeks along in her pregnancy. Contractions that are less frequent than this are probably Braxton Hicks contractions. However, any repetitive cramping that persists needs to be evaluated by your provider immediately.
Other symptoms that require the immediate attention of your provider are: