What should you do if you go into premature labour?If you think you are going into premature labour, call your midwife. If your waters break prematurely or if it is obvious you are in labour, it is usually best to go straight to hospital. What happens then depends on whether or not you are really in labour, how advanced your pregnancy is, and other medical considerations. Bear in mind, though, that hospitals prefer to play safe and you will probably be kept in at least until the situation is clearer. Generally speaking:
If there is a risk of you giving birth prematurely, you may be put on a drip to slow the process down. If this is given early enough it can halt the labour altogether and you could go on to deliver normally. You may also be given a drug to mature your baby’s lungs so that he stands a better chance of breathing more easily when he is born. If you do not give birth, this injection may be repeated at fortnightly intervals until it is no longer necessary. If you are in hospital but not in labour, and your baby is likely to be born prematurely, you might find it reassuring to look round the special care neonatal unit and meet some of the staff there. Visit babyworld's Prem Babies discussion forum – run by a mum with first-hand experience of this worrying time. |
