Dr. John Elliott, a perinatologist and the medical director of Maternal/Fetal Medicine at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz., gives the following preterm labor tips:

• Pregnant moms should be aware that preterm labor will occur in about 20 percent of pregnancies, and 10 to 12 percent will deliver preterm.
• The symptoms of preterm labor are subtle, and are common in normal pregnancy: cramping, pressure, backache, change in vaginal discharge, pressure in the inner thighs and a feeling that things are just not right. Preterm labor can happen to anybody. Be alert!
• If you are diagnosed with preterm labor, become educated. Learn about the cause (it may not be known), and discuss with your doctor what medications he or she is going to use and the dosage. Do not accept it if your doctor tells you that tocolytics do not work and he won't be using them. Ask about home contraction monitoring. Be assertive with your doctors; do not assume that they know best. Preterm labor demands aggressive action.