Maternity, Labor & Pregnancy Care

Pre-term Labor

At Saint Alphonsus our priority is keeping you and your baby healthy before, during and after your pregnancy. Drinking water during pregnancy is a great way to keep hydrated and avoid pre-term contractions which can be caused by dehydration.

Signs of Pre-Term Labor

Labor that begins prior to 37 weeks gestation, with signs of:

• Contractions every 10 minutes or more often
• Change in vaginal discharge
• Pelvic pressure
• Low, dull backache
• Cramps that feel like your period
• Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea

What to do

If you experience any signs of pre-term labor, you should:

• Stop what you are doing - lie down - preferably on your left side
• Drink water - 24 oz. within one hour
• Take a warm bath
• Call your provider

Labor

Sometimes it’s difficult to anticipate the exact start of true labor. During your last prenatal visits, your cervix is “checked” and we try to help you understand how imminent labor may or may not be. Please do not be alarmed if you have minimal vaginal bleeding after being examined. Regular painful contractions or the breaking of your “bag of water” usually signals the true onset of labor. When this happens, you should go directly to the maternity center near you. If you have questions about your labor, or if you are not sure what to do, please feel free to call your provider’s office or labor & delivery first.

If it is after regular office hours, an on-call physician will be available to answer your questions and advise you. When you are seen at the hospital, a copy of your prenatal records will be on hand. When in doubt, go to the hospital where the decision will be made to either send you home or on to labor & delivery.

Services Offered