Contractions How will I know when my contractions are real labor?

Contractions

Contractions occur when the uterine muscles tighten and relax. When true labor begins, the pituitary gland releases oxytocin. Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates contractions. True labor contractions are different from Braxton Hicks because they make labor progress.

Contractions usually start in the back and move around to the front. The contractions can be felt as a cramping or tightening sensation. Some women say that contractions feel like severe gas pains. When a woman experiences a contraction, the abdomen will become hard and you can feel this on the outside. The contractions will help push the baby down into the birth canal for delivery. Contractions are similar to a wave. It will gradually increase in intensity and then peak and decrease as the contractions comes to an end.

In the early stage of labor, contractions will come every 10-30 minutes. They will last for about 40 seconds in the early stages. However as labor progresses, the contractions will get closer, stronger and last longer. They will begin to come every 2 minutes and last for about a minute each. There will be a moment of rest in between each contraction. Take a breath and get ready for the next one to begin. This break also gives your baby and the uterus a much needed rest! You should try to work with the contractions to help bring your baby down into the birth canal.

Contractions can be timed from the start of one to the start of another. The easiest way to do this is to write down on a sheet of paper when each contractions starts and its duration. This will help you to describe your contraction pattern to your doctor and the labor nurses.

False Labor Vs. True Labor


Timing Contractions
False: Irregular, not coming closer together
True: Regular, 4-6 min apart, Become closer together and last 30-70 seconds.

Strength Of Contractions
False: Weak and does not get stronger with time or a strong contraction followed by weaker ones.
True: Becomes stronger with time.

Pain With Contractions
False: Normally only felt in the front. Does not get more intense.
True:Starts in the back and moves to the front. Gets more intense.

Position Changes
False: May slow down or stop when you walk,.lie down or change position.
True:Contractions continue no matter what you do.

Calling The Doctor
If you are less than 36 weeks pregnant and you are having contractions that last for more than 30 seconds and happen 4-6 or more times per hour, you should lay down and drink alot of water. Call your doctor if the contractions do not subside. However, if you are past 36 weeks and this is your first baby, you should continue to monitor your contractions until they are very strong and regular. You should go to the hospital when you can not hold a conversation when a contraction is occuring and when they are coser than 5 minutes apart and continue in a reliable pattern for an hour. If you have alread had children before, you should call your doctor when contractions are getting stronger and closer. Do not wait too long though since most second babies come sooner! If you are not sure whether your contractions are real or not, go to the hospital for an exam. They can tell you if you are actually in labor.



Comments: Contractions

Comments 1 to 24 of about 65.
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cate - 9 days ago.
KerriBerri- the same thing is happening to me! Last night I was having really bad back pain and contractions but they weren't regular. it was really disappointing. But I know they were the real thing because they were different than any other pain I've had so far, and this morning, she's dropped sooo much.

sunny3 - 9 days ago.
Question: im 37 weeks plus 4 days and i wanted to know if anyone else has had 'false labor contractions' i mean... they felt like contractions (i think) but they lasted a minute and were 5-10 minutes apart but then went away after an hour. is this ... normal?

nuckena - 13 days ago.
they say starts in the back and moves to the front because thats exactly what it is..a pain that starts in your back and it moves in wave like sensation to the front of your stomach

firsttimeparent18 - 15 days ago.
I do not know about anyone else, but...most certianly..i am sick of false labor and braxton hicks...and pain in my pelvis i love my child, but jeez

netters - 16 days ago.
what do they mean by 'Starts in the back and moves to the front?' Do they mean you feel them in your back?

Cbell - 17 days ago.
Effacement is the thinning out of the cervix. Dilation is when the cervix opens, but for it to open efficiently, it needs to thin out or efface. Hope that helps!

yummymummy87 - 18 days ago.
I dont mean to sound thick but what does it mean when people are putting like 50% effaced?? i know what it means to be dilated but what is effaced??

kerriberri74 - 19 days ago.
I am getting so frustrated with this false labor, and the contractions start to hurt pretty bad, and last for a few hours and then just stop... Tonights were rough, had a ton of back pain with each one. But like the last 2 nights, they last about 3 hours and stop, they are sparatic 16 min apart, then 7 min apart, then back to 10 min apart, so I know its false, but they are aggravating me now

kla2200 - 19 days ago.
Sarena, you are due right around the same time as I am and I experienced what you are describing about 1-2 months ago. I would have bh about 4-5 times every half hour to an hour mostly at night. I never called the doctor or went to the hospital because they never lasted for too long. However, I havent had this happen in quite a while now and I have been to the doctor since then. If I were you I would mention it to them just in case.

sarena - 20 days ago.
hi every one. iv been gettin bh contractions for 3 weeks now, at first they came 3 times a day if that then they started to get really uncomfy and in the space of half hour i would have 4 or 5 had a bit of cramp with them as well but nothin to painfull sometimes i feel really sick with them and feel like im goin to puke and i go really light headed. has any one had any thing like this?

courtgulledge - 20 days ago.
Anyone here Not having contractions? I used to get BH contractions but now that I am almost 36 weeks, it seems nothing. Don't know if I should attribute this to slowing down and resting more or if I should just think that he may come late. What do ya'll think? Please leave a message on my page...Thanks so much:)

*Jess* - 22 days ago.
Hi everyone, i went in saterday the 12th because i was having contractions all day and they got down to 5 minutes apart. When i got there they checked me and i was still a 1cm and 50 effaced i was a 1 like 3 weeks ago too. So they done a swab test that would tell them if i was going to deliever within the next two weeks well the test came back negative. I was just wondering if anyone has heard of or had this test done? If so is it a for sure thiing?? i am still having contractions off and on and i am having exrtreemmmm pressureeee!! and i am measuring 37 weeks instead on 32 and i am thinking she will be here really soon but who knows, but if anyone could let me know what they thought that would be wonderful and greatly appricated!!! Thanks

MilMom2Be - 23 days ago.
I'm 38 wks, and have been having contractions for over a week, they always pieter out though, and I am starting to get a bit frustrated! I am having contractions at work right now, and I just want my water to break so at least the pain will have been constructive!!!!

anikarenee - 30 days ago.
I have been havin the real contractions on and off all day. with my other children it happened all at once and did not ever stop till they came. So i am confused, I may be having false contractions because I don't feel they are gettng any stronger. It's just a waiting game now. Timings are under 10 min now but not much pain. I don't want to waste my time at the hospital and have to come back home. What to do?

FIRSTTIMEMOM23 - 30 days ago.
HEY LADIES..IM 34 WEEKS..IM HAVIN CONTRACTIONS 10MINS APART..BT I DONT FEEL A THING..I HAD TO GO TO THE ER LASTNIGHT AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS HAVIN CONTRACTIONS AND IM 1CM,,,,DO YALL THINK I WILL GO IN SOON

M.M.Masi - 30 days ago.
unborn - congrats! looks like you're in labor.

unborn08 - 30 days ago.
im 40 weeks pregnant and im having really crampy-like lower back pains, that hurt so bad when i lay on my side and my upper belly gets really hard. its been goin on for a couple days now. but today its the most tensed. could that be signs of contractions?? and my due date is tomorrow also

Amberizzle - 34 days ago.
Hmm... so I've had Braxton Hicks, but today's been really, REALLY stressful at work and suddenly it felt like my whole lower back just cramped. My belly got really tight too. It lasted about 30 seconds or so, and felt better after I walked a bit and then sat down. Was this a contraction?

CookieMonster - 35 days ago.
I have a question about contractions. I know that this is stupid but what do they feel like? I thought I knew, but I guess I am not that educated in this area. Is it when your stomach gets tight or when you feel cramping? My stomach gets tight sometimes and other times I get horrible cramps but I don't usually have them at the same time. Please help me out, I am feeling so stupid because I don;t want to go to the hospital saying that I am having contractions when I am really just having a hard tummy. Also I am 37 weeks 3 days.

jacquelyn - 38 days ago.
Is it normal for contractions that last a long time(sometimes all night and through most of the next day) to cause soreness in the belly and lower back. Nights when I contract all night, I wake up so sore in my belly and back, particularly if I spent most of the night on my side. I've been blaming it on the contractions but I don't really know for sure that's what's causing it.

Mummy2be2008 - 41 days ago.
Linzi50 ... well said yes holding your breath is the worst thing you can do .... breath in through your nose and out of your mouth worked for me in my second labour and I focused on something too ... and I would also try and think of something else ....

linzi50 - 41 days ago.
All i can say to any first time mums, is to make sure you don't panic, because the pain is severe and it will take your breath away. If you breath properly and don't hyperventilate like i did (with pure Panic) then you will get through the pain. Holding your breath or breathing too fast will make the pain 100 times worse. So remember ladies Nice deep breaths and not the short little ones will help alot. Good luck!

dcMomof3 - 43 days ago.
any kind of pain or tightening that is coming regularly, TIME IT! better safe than sorry!

dcMomof3 - 43 days ago.
this being my 3rd child i can now pretty much tell the difference between my BH and the real deal. for me i have alot of back labor so i know when i get this real dull unbearable pain in my lower back(almost my butt)and my stomach gets rock hard and im frozen in my tracks, its the real thing! Braxton Hicks for me is just my stomach gettin real hard and i get uncomfortable, but i can still function and dont have the dull harsh pains! but ive heard they feel different to others so idk

riknlee - 43 days ago.
A contraction at first is like a feeling that you are tightening and you can talk through them. then they become a bit more intense and you have to stop speaking and concentrate. At some point they will get so strong and painful that you cant get away from yourself. It is actually hard to describe. It is a pain you never think you will forget but soon do. Good luck - I dont think I answered it at all.


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