In singleton pregnancies, only about 10 percent will deliver early, for a variety of reasons.
Premature labor is of concern because it can lead to cerebral palsy or even death.
Others get infections in the decidua, the lining of the uterus, or in the amniotic sac. Ingesting cocaine can also cause contractions. Abdominal trauma, an injury that might be sustained in a car accident, may also bring on labor. Not a whole lot. When women are in premature labor, we typically admit them to the hospital and give them tocolytics, drugs that stop the contractions for about 48 hours.