After having that depressing experience last Monday and the possibility of going-through a premature labor, I started reading about it online. I guess I need to know every information I can get so I can relax my mind.

And since I have this baby-Mommy blog, why not share what I learned?

As I found out, going into a premature labor is one of the most terrifying and upsetting things that can occur in a pregnancy. This condition is also known as early labor. But well, every Mom must know that the gravity or the seriousness of the situation depends on how far along an expecting Mom is in the pregnancy. Meaning, if you’re just about 2 weeks early, there is hardly ever any problem. But if it is earlier than that (just like mine, Little Nicholas is still 35 weeks, 36-40 weeks is the safest I guess), the Mom and the baby might be in trouble.

There are many factors why this condition happens, this includes (but not necessarily limited to):

· Being irresponsible like smoking, drug abuse and drinking alcoholic beverages while in the pregnancy

· Poor nutrition

· Infection (one cause is the water leaking and the Mom had sex with the Dad)

· Having an “incompetent cervix” – a weak cervix that opens on its own

· Chronic illnesses such as kidney and liver disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, among others

· Multiple conception – twins or triplets or more

· Having a fibroid (a benevolent smooth-muscle lump or tumor) uterus

· A prior pre-term or early labor deliveries (high risk)

However, most causes of numerous premature labors are still unknown. Thus, doctors advise Moms that if contractions are felt several weeks before the expected labor, one must call her doctor immediately. Prevention is always better than cure; thus, the earlier the diagnosis and the treatment, the better the chance of preventing/stopping pre-term labor.

Premature labor is really frightening, but in most cases, the chance of having a healthy baby is high. Every Mom should always remember though that lowering the risk and avoiding irresponsible acts are the keys to improving the chances of a complete term pregnancy.