It is common for women to have contractions before labor starts, sometimes called Braxton Hicks contractions or false labor. These may be painful and regular, but usually go away within an hour or with rest. If you have contractions more often than six times an hour that continue for more than an hour, call your health care provider right away. Fetal monitoring is used to record the heartbeat of the fetus and contractions of your uterus. You may be watched for a time and then examined again to see whether your cervix changes.
Some women are at greater risk for preterm labor than others.
Women who have little or no prenatal care and those who have had preterm labor before are at increased risk. Preterm labor can happen to anyone, however, without warning. A number of other factors have also been linked to preterm labor. There are also factors linked to the fetus that make preterm labor more likely. For instance, too much fluid in the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby is a risk factor.