In order to increase the sensitivity of diagnosis without treating unnecessarily, it is best to be liberal in looking for preterm labor, but conservative in diagnosis and treatment. The goal of first contact with a patient who may have preterm labor and d1. Invite any patient complaining of possible symptoms of preterm labor to come in for contraction monitoring and cervical exam. Severity of symptoms bears little relation to their clinical significance.2. Wait for cervical change of at least 1 cm in dilatation of 2 cm or more before accepting the diagnosis of preterm labor in a patient with persistent contractions.