Contractions and dilation (opening) of the cervix before 37 weeks of pregnancy are considered preterm, or premature, labor ... preventing these women from giving birth prematurely.

has taken an official position on this -- that labor and delivery present potential hazards to mother and fetus before and after birth. "Those hazards," according to ACOG's Web site, "require ...

people giving birth can’t count on their closest hospital having the specialized health care they need. Researchers tallied losses and gains of labor and delivery units at close to 5,000 U.S ...