Premature labour and birth
Most preterm births happen spontaneously (on its own, without medication or medical intervention) but, in some cases, pre-term labour is planned because it’s safer for the baby to be born sooner rather than later.
In this section
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Read more about 'Signs and symptoms of premature labour'
Signs and symptoms of premature labour
Call your midwife or hospital maternity unit straight away if you think you are in early labour. It may be a false alarm, but it’s best to get checked out. -
Read more about 'Having a planned premature birth'
Having a planned premature birth
Sometimes, a premature birth is planned because it's safer for the baby to be born sooner rather than later. You may be offered a induction or c-section. -
Read more about 'Giving birth to your premature baby'
Giving birth to your premature baby
Giving birth is one of the most life-changing experiences you'll ever have, but it doesn't always go as planned, especially when your baby is premature.
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Read more about 'Preparing your baby for a premature birth'
Preparing your baby for a premature birth
If you are in early premature labour, your healthcare team may try to slow down labour or delay the birth until later in your pregnancy. -
Read more about 'In utero transfer to a neonatal unit'
In utero transfer to a neonatal unit
If baby is likely to be born very prematurely, you may need to move to a specialist neonatal unit at another hospital. This is known as ‘in utero transfer’. -
Read more about 'Labour and birth packing checklist'
Labour and birth packing checklist
This simple list gives you an idea of what and when to pack for labour and birth. Print it and tick off the items as you pack.