Calculatorsहिहिन्दीPatient portal
Advanced Obstetrics guide

Preterm Labour and Birth

Symptoms, tests and treatments used when labour may be starting before 37 weeks, including neonatal planning.

Specialist-depth overview
10–12 min readUpdated 20 July 2026Evidence-informed patient education

Preterm labour is labour that begins before 37 completed weeks. Many people with tightening or pain are not in established labour, but prompt assessment is important because time-sensitive treatments may improve newborn outcomes when birth appears likely.

Regular tightenings, pelvic pressure, bleeding or possible membrane rupture before 37 weeks should be assessed.
Tests may include examination, fetal monitoring, cervical assessment and evaluation for infection or ruptured membranes.
Treatment depends on gestation, whether labour is established and the safest place for neonatal care.

Assessment in hospital

The team will clarify symptoms, gestation and previous preterm birth, then assess maternal observations and fetal wellbeing. A speculum examination, cervical-length scan or biochemical test may be used selectively. Infection, urinary symptoms and membrane rupture are considered.

Time-sensitive treatments

When preterm birth is likely, corticosteroids may be offered to support fetal lung maturation. Magnesium sulphate may be considered at earlier gestations for fetal neuroprotection. Medicines to delay labour are used only in selected situations, usually to allow treatment or transfer.

Place and mode of birth

If very preterm birth is possible, transfer to a centre with suitable neonatal care may be recommended. Mode of birth is not determined by prematurity alone; presentation, fetal condition, gestation and obstetric history are considered.

After a previous preterm birth

A future-pregnancy plan may include early specialist review, cervical-length surveillance, progesterone or cerclage depending on the cause and previous gestation. Smoking cessation and treatment of medical conditions also matter.

Questions worth discussing at your consultation

  • Do my symptoms indicate established labour?
  • Which treatments are recommended at my gestation?
  • Is transfer to a neonatal centre needed?
  • How can recurrence risk be reduced in another pregnancy?
When to seek urgent careContact maternity services immediately for regular contractions, watery leakage, vaginal bleeding, significant pelvic pressure, fever or reduced fetal movements before 37 weeks.
Medical note: This page is educational and is structured to support a specialist consultation. Diagnosis, investigations and treatment must be individualised. It has not been presented as a substitute for an examination or emergency assessment.