When a pregnant mother has been receiving prenatal care from a doctor for some time, the estimated due date will be set in advance. However! During pregnancy, the mother should take care of her health and follow the doctor’s advice to reduce the risk of preterm labor, which can be done as follows:
Self-care to prevent and reduce the risk
of preterm labor
- Visit the doctor for prenatal check-ups as scheduled
- Get enough rest, at least 6-8 hours a day
- Avoid walking or standing for long periods, long-distance travel, and heavy work
- Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily to stay adequately hydrated
- Eat a balanced diet with all 5 food groups
- Take blood supplements regularly
- Avoid or quit all types of addictive substances
- Do not hold urine as it may cause urinary tract infections
- Avoid nipple stimulation
- If at risk of preterm labor or near the due date, avoid sexual intercourse
- Avoid stressful situations
- If dental work or oral health care is needed, complete it before 28 weeks of pregnancy
- If there is abnormal vaginal discharge, inform your attending doctor
Signs of labor pain that require an unscheduled doctor visit
- Regular and increasingly frequent labor pains
- Pain every 10-40 seconds
- Pain at the top of the uterus, both abdomen and back or buttocks, with a dull ache radiating to the buttocks or back
- Abdominal pain that does not improve after resting
- May be accompanied by bloody mucus or water breaking
