Preterm labor can happen during any pregnancy without warning.

Risk
There are many factors that can increase the risk of preterm labor, including:

Factors for • History of previous preterm labor

or premature birth
• History of vaginal bleeding
during pregnancy

Preterm • Pregnancy with multiples - • Fetal birth defect

Labor
twins, triplets, or more
• Tobacco or illicit drug use
• Medical conditions
• Stressful life events
• Shortened cervix
• Black, non-Hispanic race and ethnicity
• Early dilation
• Shorter (less than 12 months) or longer
• Problems with the uterus or placenta (more than 59 months)
intervals between pregnancies
• Infections, particularly of the amniotic
fluidor lower genital tract • Age of mother - both mothers younger
than 17 and over 35 are at higher risk
• Chronic conditions like high blood
pressure, diabetes, autoimmune
diseases, and depression

• Polyhydramnios
(too much amniotic fluid)

Sources:
www.mayoclinic.org 1