Read our Labor & Delivery Q&A 
Be ready! Have your hospital bag packed good and early. Here's a list of what to bring
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Preterm labor is at an all-time high in the United States and the No. 2 cause of
infant death. Defined as delivering before 37 full weeks of gestation, the
problem occurs in 12 percent of U.S. pregnancies, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Some warning signs to watch for, courtesy of the
March of Dimes:
- Six or more uterine contractions within one hour, with or without pain
- Pelvic pressure that feels like the baby is pushing down
- Low, dull backache
- Abdominal cramps, with or without diarrhea
- Menstrual-like cramps
- Watery fluid leaking from your vagina (this could mean your water has broken)
Even if you have just one of these symptoms, contact your health-care provider right away, or head for the hospital.
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Labor & Delivery