How is preterm labor defined?

Preterm labor is defined as labor that begins before 37 weeks of gestation. This is significant because it indicates that the baby is being born before reaching the full term, which typically is around 40 weeks. Preterm labor can pose various health risks for both the mother and the baby, including complications associated with premature birth, such as respiratory issues, developmental delays, and increased chances of longer hospital stays. Understanding this definition is crucial for monitoring at-risk pregnancies and implementing timely interventions to improve outcomes for both mothers and their infants.

Labor occurring after 37 weeks is classified as term labor, while labor lasting less than 3 hours or characterized by fetal distress does not define preterm labor specifically and relates more to the characteristics of the labor process or specific complications during labor rather than the timing of labor onset.