Final answer:
Preterm labor is the term for labor that begins before 37 weeks of pregnancy. True labor consists of regular, intensifying contractions and concludes in three stages: cervical dilation, delivery of the baby, and expulsion of the placenta. If labor stalls, Pitocin may be used to restart it.
Step-by-step explanation:
Labor that occurs before 37 weeks is called preterm labor. It represents the onset of true labor contractions and changes in the cervix that happen before the baby is considered full-term. True labor is characterized by regular contractions that immediately precede childbirth; these contractions do not abate with hydration or rest, and they increase in frequency and intensity over time. The process of labor itself involves three stages: the dilation of the cervix, the expulsion of the baby from the uterus, and the passage of the placenta after birth. The onset of true labor is often indicated by signs such as the 'bloody show', a phenomenon occurring 1-2 days before labor when a mucus plug is expelled from the cervix, often accompanied by a small amount of blood. If necessary, synthetic oxytocin, known as Pitocin, may be administered to induce or maintain labor if it stalls before completion.