How Do You Spell PREMATURE LABOR?

1. Premature labor refers to the onset of contractions and subsequent cervical changes occurring before the completion of 37 weeks of pregnancy. It is also known as preterm labor. Typically, a full-term pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks, so premature labor occurs three weeks before this expected gestational period.

   During premature labor, the uterine contractions cause the cervix to dilate and efface (thin out) earlier than anticipated. This can lead to the delivery of a baby before it has reached full development, which may result in potential health complications.

   Premature labor can be spontaneous or due to various factors such as infections, weak cervix, multiple gestations (like twins or triplets), uterine abnormalities, or certain medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.

   Signs of premature labor may include regular contractions which occur more than four times per hour, abdominal cramping, low backache, pelvic pressure, change in vaginal discharge, or rupture of membranes (water breaking). If a woman experiences any of these symptoms, she should contact her healthcare provider immediately for further evaluation and management.

   Prompt medical attention is crucial in managing premature labor to help delay delivery and allow time for interventions that may promote fetal lung maturity or address any underlying causes. Specialized care and monitoring are typically provided in a hospital setting to support the baby's well-being until delivery.

2. The expulsion of a viable fetus prior to the normal end of pregnancy, i.e. from the seventh to the ninth month.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for PREMATURE LABOR

The term "premature labor" is a medical phrase that describes the onset of labor before the expected time of delivery. It comes from the combination of two words: "premature" and "labor".

1. "Premature" comes from the Latin word "praematurus", which is formed by joining "prae" meaning "before" and "maturus" meaning "ripe" or "mature". Thus, "premature" essentially means "before maturity" or "before the proper time".

2. "Labor" comes from the Latin word "laborem", which means "toil" or "effort". In medical terminology, "labor" refers specifically to the process of childbirth or delivery.

When combined, "premature labor" suggests the occurrence of labor before the expected gestation period or the point of full maturity for the fetus.

Similar spelling words for PREMATURE LABOR