Preterm birth or premature birth refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks of pregnancy.

The main causes include:

• Precocious fetal endocrine activation
• Uterine overdistension
• Desidual bleeding
• Intrauterine inflammation or infection

This is a process happening gradually over weeks or even months. The exact cause is not yet known.

The signs of premature labour include:

• Cramps or contraction, more than 5 in one hour
• Bleeding
• Urinary tract, bladder or kidney infection, the symptom is pain during urination
• Sudden discharge of clear, watery fluid from vagina
• Intense pelvic pressure
• Low, mild backache

If you have any one of the signs you must contact your gynaecologist immediately.

A pregnant must drink enough water. Dehydration is a cause for contractions and enough fluid intakes can avoid this.

If there is a symptom of infection go to your doctor immediately. A wrong alarm is not bad and preterm birth is not good..