This refers to uterine contraction before pregnancy reaches maturity. This may be due to a number of factors such as twin pregnancy, too much amniotic fluid surrounding the baby, malaria, urinary tract infection etc.

Prompt presentation to the hospital will give the woman the opportunity of identifying the cause and treating it, if possible, so as to avert preterm delivery which may adversely affect the baby.

What to do before getting to the hospital?

The woman may take a mild pain relief drug such as paracetamol, which will also help relieve fever, if there is any, as fever also may contribute to causing the preterm uterine contraction.

This may give her some relief while finding her way to the hospital. Going to the hospital should not be delayed because of the relief obtained from the medication as this is temporary.