Premature Labor in Grand Rapids, MI: What Local Parents Need to Know

Pregnancy usually lasts between 38 and 42 weeks. A premature birth (also called preterm birth) is when your baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Recognizing the signs of premature labor early is very important so you and your baby can get fast medical care at a Grand Rapids hospital such as Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) Butterworth Hospital, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, or Mercy Health.

What Is Premature Labor?

Gestational age is how many weeks your baby has been growing in the womb, counted from the first day of your last menstrual period. When a baby is born early, their gestational age helps doctors understand:

  • How developed your baby’s organs are
  • What kind of medical support your baby might need after birth

Premature babies may need care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or Special Care Nursery. In Grand Rapids, NICU services are available at major hospitals such as:

  • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital NICU
  • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (for specialized pediatric and neonatal care)
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids

In the NICU, staff monitor and support your baby’s:

  • Breathing and oxygen levels
  • Heart rate
  • Feeding and digestion
  • Temperature and body fluids

Who Is at Risk for Premature Labor?

It is often hard to predict who will go into early labor, even if you are otherwise healthy. Many premature labors are spontaneous and unexplained.

However, some factors can increase the risk:

  • Previous premature birth or premature labor
  • Infection, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), even without obvious symptoms
  • General infections in the body
  • Smoking or using recreational drugs
  • Poor diet or poor overall health
  • High stress levels or living with violence
  • Carrying twins or more (multiple pregnancy)
  • Problems with the womb (uterus), such as fibroids
  • Problems with the cervix (the neck of the womb), such as it being short or weak
  • Bleeding from the placenta
  • High blood pressure in pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia
  • The baby not growing well in the womb (fetal growth restriction)

Sometimes doctors will recommend an early delivery (inducing labor or doing a cesarean) because it is safer for the baby to be born than to stay in the womb. This might happen if:

  • Your baby is not growing well
  • Your blood pressure is dangerously high
  • There is significant bleeding from the placenta
  • There are serious concerns about your or your baby’s health

Even if you have several risk factors, you may still have a full-term pregnancy. And you can still have premature labor even with no known risk factors.

Braxton Hicks vs. Real Labor: What’s the Difference?

From around 20 weeks of pregnancy, you may notice your womb tightening. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions or “false labor”. They are your body’s way of practicing for birth and do not mean labor has started.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

  • Irregular and unpredictable
  • Usually happen once or twice an hour, a few times a day
  • Usually last less than a minute
  • Often stop when you change what you’re doing – for example:
    • If you’ve been walking, they may ease when you sit or lie down
    • If you’ve been resting, they may improve if you move around
  • Can feel uncomfortable, especially in a first pregnancy, but usually do not get steadily stronger

True Labor Contractions

  • Become regular, closer together, and more intense
  • Last longer over time
  • Do not go away with rest, drinking water, or changing position
  • Pain often:
    • Starts at the top of your womb
    • Moves down toward your pubic bone
    • May spread to your lower back and pelvis

You may also have false labor later in pregnancy, especially if you’ve had a baby before. False labor contractions can be painful and confusing, but they are usually:

  • Short (less than about 45 seconds)
  • Irregular
  • Felt in different places – groin, lower abdomen, or back

False labor is not dangerous for your baby, but it can be hard to tell apart from early labor. If you’re unsure, contact your Grand Rapids OB/GYN, midwife, or hospital labor and delivery unit for advice.

Signs of Premature Labor to Watch For

If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant, contact a doctor or midwife immediately if you notice any of the following:

  • Contractions more than 4 times in an hour that don’t go away with rest or fluids
  • A dull ache in your lower back that doesn’t improve
  • Pelvic pressure, like your baby is pushing down
  • Stomach cramps like period pain
  • Blood or fluid coming from your vagina
  • Your water breaking (a gush or constant trickle of fluid)
  • Swelling of your hands, feet, or face that is sudden or severe
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea that is new or intense
  • Vision changes (blurred or double vision, spots in front of your eyes)
  • Your baby stops moving or moves less than usual
  • A strong feeling that “something isn’t right”

In Michigan, especially during cold winters and icy weather, it can be harder to get to the hospital quickly. Plan ahead for transportation to your Grand Rapids hospital, especially if you live outside the city or in rural Kent County.

What To Do if You Think You’re in Premature Labor in Grand Rapids

If your waters break or you start having regular contractions before 37 weeks:

  1. Call your midwife, OB/GYN, or hospital labor and delivery unit immediately – day or night.
  2. Do not drive yourself if you are in strong pain, bleeding, or feel faint.
  3. If no one can drive you, call 911 for an ambulance (not 000, which is used in other countries).

Major hospitals in Grand Rapids with maternity and emergency services include:

  • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
  • Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (for neonatal and pediatric care)
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health

You can also contact the Kent County Health Department or Grand Rapids Public Health for guidance on local prenatal and emergency resources.

What Happens at the Hospital?

When you arrive at a Grand Rapids hospital with signs of premature labor, staff will usually:

1. Assess Whether Labor Has Started

  • Check your vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, heart rate)
  • Examine your abdomen and ask about your contractions
  • Perform a vaginal exam to see if your cervix is shortening (effacing) and opening (dilating)

2. Test for Infection and Labor Risk

They may:

  • Test your urine and vaginal fluid for infection
  • Test for fetal fibronectin, a substance found in vaginal fluid
    • If fetal fibronectin is present, it may mean you are more likely to give birth soon
    • If it is not present, you may be less likely to deliver in the next couple of weeks

3. Monitor Your Baby

Your baby’s heartbeat will be checked using a CTG (cardiotocography) machine, which is a monitor strapped around your belly to track:

  • Baby’s heart rate
  • Your contractions

If it’s not clear whether you are in true labor, you may be admitted to the antenatal ward so staff can continue to watch you and your baby.

Treatment for Premature Labor

Management depends on how many weeks pregnant you are and how you and your baby are doing.

If You Are Less Than 34 Weeks Pregnant

Your doctors may:

  • Give you medications to slow or stop contractions (called tocolytics) to delay birth
  • Offer steroid injections to help your baby’s lungs mature and reduce breathing problems after birth
  • Give magnesium sulfate in some cases to help protect your baby’s brain
  • Arrange transfer to a hospital with a NICU (for example, Corewell Health Butterworth or Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital) if you are not already in one

The goal is often to delay birth long enough to give steroids time to work and move you to the safest place for your baby’s delivery.

If You Are More Than 34 Weeks Pregnant

If you are further along, your doctors may:

  • Allow labor to continue naturally if you and your baby are stable
  • Still give steroids if there is time, especially before 36 weeks
  • Closely monitor your baby’s heart rate and your contractions

Many babies born after 34 weeks in Grand Rapids hospitals do very well, though they may still need short-term support in a special care nursery or NICU.

Do You Need a Cesarean Section?

Being in premature labor does not automatically mean you must have a C-section.

You may need a cesarean birth if:

  • You have heavy bleeding
  • Your baby is in distress
  • The baby is in a difficult position
  • There are other serious complications

Your obstetrician will discuss the safest option for you and your baby.

Coping With the Emotions of Premature Labor

Finding out you are in premature labor can be shocking and frightening, especially if you expected a full-term birth or had a detailed birth plan.

You may feel:

  • Worried or scared about your baby’s health
  • Overwhelmed by medical information and equipment
  • Like you have lost control of your birth experience

You can:

  • Ask your midwives, nurses, and doctors to explain each test and treatment
  • Request updates about your baby as often as you need
  • Bring a support person (partner, family member, or friend) to be with you

Grand Rapids has strong support networks, including:

  • Hospital-based social workers and lactation consultants
  • Parent support groups for families with babies in the NICU
  • Community resources through the Kent County Health Department and local nonprofits

Planning Ahead if an Early Birth Is Likely

If your doctor or midwife tells you that an early birth is likely, planning ahead can make things easier.

Put a Support Plan in Place

Because your baby may need time in the NICU, you may need help with:

  • Grocery shopping and meal prep
  • Housekeeping and laundry
  • Caring for older children
  • Pet care or plant care
  • Transportation to and from the hospital (especially in winter weather)

Ask friends, family, neighbors, or your faith community in Grand Rapids to be part of your support team.

Learn About the NICU

  • Ask your doctor or midwife to arrange a visit to the NICU at your hospital
  • Become familiar with the machines and monitors around the babies
  • Ask staff how you can be involved in your baby’s care (skin-to-skin contact, feeding, holding, etc.)

Talk With Your Older Children

If you have older kids:

  • Let them know the baby may come early
  • Explain that the baby might need to stay in the hospital for a while
  • Reassure them that they are still important and loved

Be Flexible With Your Birth Plan

If you planned:

  • A home birth
  • A birth center delivery
  • A very low-intervention birth

Understand that a premature baby may need hospital care and technology for safety. Your team will still try to honor your preferences where possible while keeping you and your baby safe.

Take Care of Your Mental Health

Try strategies to stay as calm as you can:

  • Listening to music or guided relaxation
  • Deep breathing or gentle stretching (if your doctor says it’s safe)
  • Talking to other parents of premature babies
  • Focusing on your baby in a loving, positive way, one day at a time

Local mental health providers in Grand Rapids, including those connected with Corewell Health, Trinity Health, and community clinics, can offer counseling and support for anxiety, trauma, or postpartum depression.

Local Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you are pregnant and living in Grand Rapids or Kent County, you can seek help from:

  • Your GP/primary care provider
  • Your OB/GYN or midwife
  • Hospital labor and delivery units (Butterworth, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health)
  • Kent County Health Department – prenatal programs, WIC, and referrals
  • Grand Rapids Public Health and local community health centers

In an emergency, always call 911 for an ambulance.

Key Points About Premature Labor in Grand Rapids

  • Premature birth is when a baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
  • It’s essential to recognize signs of premature labor so you and your baby can get immediate medical care at a Grand Rapids hospital.
  • Treating infections, especially urinary or vaginal infections, can reduce the risk of premature labor.
  • Risk factors include previous premature birth, infections, smoking, poor health, high stress, high blood pressure, and problems with the womb or cervix—but you can still have a full-term pregnancy even with risk factors.
  • You can also have premature labor with no known risk factors, so always get checked if you notice concerning symptoms.

If you are ever unsure whether you are in real labor or just having Braxton Hicks contractions, call your Grand Rapids healthcare provider or hospital right away. Early evaluation can make a major difference for you and your baby.