Q&A: I am concerned that at 32 weeks pregnant I am having contractions.

At 32 weeks, you've hit a major milestone. A baby delivered right now would probably do well after a stay in the neonatal ICU. But the ideal is to get you as close to term as possible. Your next milestone will be 36 weeks, when the baby's lungs are usually ready (or close to ready) to function, so all efforts will be geared to helping you make it to 36 weeks. The vast majority of cases of preterm labor are for unknown reasons, hence all of your negative tests. The crucial question boils down to the laws of physics—do your contractions amass a net vector force in one direction: outward? If so, your cervix will change, which is the real definition of labor (not just contractions). One centimeter of dilation means nothing without effacement (the thinning out of the cervix). Effacement is the deal breaker as far as predicting a pending delivery preterm. If your cervix is 1 centimeter but still thick, this is not a problem; but if your cervix is 1 centimeter but 90 percent effaced, this would be a worry. Here's hoping your cervix is not effaced. Ask your doctor.