Can you have contractions without being dilated

Prodromal Labor - American Pregnancy Association

Prodromal labor is often called “false labor,” and is somewhere in between Braxton Hicks contractions and active labor contractions. Prodromal labor is a part of labor, occurring before active labor but it does not progress toward delivery.
“Prodromal” comes from a Greek word meaning “precursor.” This is a great explanation for this type of labor since it typically comes hours, days, or weeks before active labor begins.

Prodromal labor consists of contractions that can be fairly regular (between 5-10 minutes apart) and can be painful like active labor contractions, more so than Braxton Hicks contractions. Typically each contraction will last just shy of one minute.
These contractions are preparatory. It is suggested that they may help encourage the baby into a suitable birthing position, that they prepare the muscles, ligaments, and pelvis for active labor, and they may help prepare the mother for what is soon coming: active labor.

How can I tell the difference between prodromal and active labor contractions?

Though prodromal labor contractions come at fairly regular intervals and may be more painful than uncomfortable, there is often a break between these contractions and active labor. Prodromal contractions do NOT:

advance labor
increase in intensity
increase in frequency
cause continuing dilation or effacement of the cervix (it may affect it to some degree)

Will I be able to tell them apart without an exam by my healthcare provider?

It is not always easy to determine at home whether what you are experiencing is the “real thing” or not. Prodromal labor contractions may happen very close together (say, every 5 minutes) and may be more painful than the Braxton Hicks contractions you’ve already been through.
For women who have experienced prodromal labor before, they may be able to sort out if they’re experiencing the real deal. However, if it is your first pregnancy or if you have not gone through prodromal labor in previous pregnancies, it might take a trip to the doctor to be sure.
Most healthcare providers will begin by collecting information on the timing of your contractions if they’ve increased in intensity, and how long they have been going on for (so make sure you write it down!). The doctor or midwife will likely perform a pelvic exam to understand if your cervix has begun to dilate. If there is no sign of dilation, or if it is the same as the last exam or a very small change, then you are likely experiencing prodromal labor.

I’m embarrassed to call my doctor/midwife because I’m not sure if it’s the real thing…what should I do?

Call your doctor/midwife! If it’s between suffering from a little embarrassment and having an accidental home birth without a healthcare professional, it seems like a pretty easy choice. Like stated above, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to tell the difference between active and prodromal labor without a pelvic exam by your healthcare provider.
Remember – your healthcare provider hears this question all the time. You are not alone!

What are signs that prodromal labor might be progressing into active labor?

Like we mentioned above, it is not always possible to tell when prodromal contractions have become active labor contractions without a pelvic exam. However, if the contractions begin happening at very regular intervals under 5 minutes apart, they last for longer than 1 minute each, and this happens consecutively for over 1 hour, it may be time to call your healthcare provider. He or she can let you know at that time if you need to proceed to the birthing location or just to have an appointment.

How can I cope with prodromal labor?

During prodromal labor contractions, it is important to make sure you rest. Since there is the potential for active labor to occur not too much later, it is suggested that you conserve your energy for the actual labor and delivery.
Here are things you can try to do to keep your mind off of the contractions:

Take a warm shower (not bath in case you are dilated at all).
If it begins at night, try to get some sleep.
Take a nap.
Munch on some snacks.
Drink water and/or a sports drink.
Try light activity, such as packing your bag for the hospital.
Take a short, leisurely walk.
Do things that calm you: read a book, drink safe herbal tea, listen to music, meditate, etc.

Try NOT to:

Do more exhausting tasks like cooking, cleaning, or exercising.
Feel bad asking for help! You don’t have to wait until after your baby arrives to ask for assistance.

Want to Know More?

Braxton Hicks Contractions: Causes and Treatment
False Labor
Pregnancy Pains

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. Sutter Health: Pre-Labor vs. True Labor.

2. Experimental Wifery: How To Survive Prodromal Labor.

3. Caritas Center for Women’s Health: For Your Information VI – Is It Labor?

4. Beth Curtis, retired Midwife. 2005.

What Is Prodromal Labor?

Written by Alexandra McCray

Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on August 23, 2022

But sometimes contractions don’t make your cervix change the way it would if your labor had started for real. Your doctor may describe this as uterine contractions without cervical change. Some people call this “prodromal labor” (prodromal means early signs). Others refer to it as “false labor.” But doctors avoid both terms because they consider them imprecise or misleading.

Prodromal Labor vs. True Labor

Unlike actual labor, contractions without cervical change don’t get you and your baby ready for delivery. Doctors don’t know what causes them. They can happen at different times in your pregnancy. Your contractions may be regular and might remind you of menstrual cramps. They shouldn’t get worse over time and will go away. Lying down or drinking water may help you stay comfortable until the contractions pass.

Braxton-Hicks contractions are another type that don’t change your cervix. They may come on less regularly than prodromal labor. You may have Braxton-Hicks contractions in the evening or after you’ve moved a lot. You might get one or two contractions an hour. They are more distinct and often may feel like tightening in one part of your womb. But you might not feel anything. Shifting your body or walking can help end the contractions.

Real labor, by contrast, usually happens in three stages. It starts with regular contractions. They can come every 5-15 minutes and last 60-90 seconds in the beginning. In the first stage of labor, your cervix opens and thins to let your baby move into the birth canal. A pink or bloody discharge may appear as this happens. This could be the mucus plug at the end of your cervix releasing. If you see heavy bleeding or your water breaks, call your doctor right away.

The first stage can last for 12-19 hours or less. You should give your doctor updates and they will tell you what to do next.

Over time, your contractions grow stronger, last longer, and happen more often as you move into the second stage of labor. You might feel cramps in your legs and lower back pressure.

How to Tell if You’re Really in Labor

Cervical change is the key sign that you’re in labor. But it can be hard for you to tell. Keeping track of your contractions and what they feel like can help you distinguish when your baby is ready to be born or if it’s a false alarm.

Signs of contractions without cervical change include if they:

Don’t have a pattern
Get better when you rest, change positions, or drink water
Don’t get stronger
Start strong and then weaken
Don’t become more frequent

You may be in true labor and should call your doctor or go to the hospital if:

Your contractions last longer, become more painful, come every 5 minutes or less, and happen for more than an hour
Your belly, pelvis, and lower back hurt but changing positions doesn’t help
Your water breaks. This could be a small or large amount of liquid.
Pink, red, or brown discharge appears
You have a lot of vaginal bleeding
You have consistent, painful contractions before your 37th week. This could be preterm labor

If you still aren’t sure if you’re in labor, call your doctor. They may be able to give you pain medication and help you relax if you are worried.

Important to know - Health of a Petersburger

The total duration of childbirth and their course

The total duration of childbirth depends on many factors: age, physique and physical condition of the woman, her psychological mood, the speed of cervical dilatation, first pregnancy or repeated, the size of the child, the type of presentation and a number of other points.

Labor activity proceeds differently for all women, but the main periods of childbirth are clearly distinguished: 1st period - the period of contractions, the longest and most intense, 2nd period - the direct birth of a baby, 3rd period - the birth of the afterbirth (placenta).

First stage of labor (opening period)

As the name implies, during this period there is a gradual opening of the cervix as a result of regular contractions of the uterine muscles. Contractions occur with a decreasing interval, while they themselves become longer and more frequent.
The dilation period is the time elapsed from the onset of regular contractions until the cervix is fully dilated. During this period, the birth canal is prepared for the passage of the fetus through them with all the fetal formations.

Cervical dilatation occurs gradually: at first the cervix is smoothed out, then the pharynx opens up to 3-4 cm and at the end of the first stage of labor up to 10 cm. This is already a complete dilatation of the cervix. With it, during contractions, the fetal bladder becomes tense and bursts at the height of one of them, the anterior portion of amniotic fluid is poured out.

The first stage of labor is the longest and consists of three phases:

1. Latent phase (lasts 5-6 hours). It is characterized by the establishment of regular contractions, with an interval between them of 10-15 minutes. Latent, or hidden, this phase is called because the contractions of the uterus during it are painless or slightly painful. By the end of the phase, the cervix is definitively flattened and opens about 4 cm.

2. Active phase (lasts 3-4 hours). Contractions become more intense, last at least 20 seconds, and the interval between them is reduced to 5-6 minutes. Normally, during the active phase, amniotic fluid is poured out, which contributes to a faster full disclosure of the uterine pharynx. By the end of the phase, the uterus opens by 8 cm. This phase is not always clearly manifested, but it is nevertheless distinguished due to the usual weakening of contractions during disclosure from 8 to 10 cm. The child's head descends and stands in the narrow part of the small pelvis, which necessitates a slower and smoother process. Already in the transitional phase, the woman in labor feels the desire to push, to push the baby out. But in order for the head to pass through the birth canal without the risk of injury, it is necessary to achieve cervical dilatation up to 10 cm.

Second stage of labor (exile period)

The period of exile is the time from the moment of full opening of the pharynx until the birth of the fetus.

It is the second stage of childbirth that is their culmination, because for a short time (compared to contractions) the long-awaited birth of the baby takes place.

After the discharge of amniotic fluid, contractions temporarily stop. The volume of the uterine cavity decreases, the uterine cavity and vagina appear as a single birth canal. Contractions reappear and become more intense. They are joined by attempts - contractions of the muscle press (abdominal wall, diaphragm and pelvic floor). The frequency and intensity of contractions and attempts are constantly increasing. The head descends and compresses the nerves of the sacral plexus. A woman has a strong desire to squeeze the head out of the birth canal, she is looking for supports for her arms and legs to strengthen her efforts.

Pushing is a lot of physical work. During attempts, a woman experiences maximum physical stress (blood pressure rises, pulse and respiration become more frequent). During the attempts, the woman holds her breath, and in the intervals between them she rests and "gathers her strength for a new attempt."

In the process of one of the attempts, the head is born. Next, the shoulders are born (first the front, then the back) and the torso. Following the fetus, the posterior amniotic fluid is poured out with an admixture of cheese-like lubricant.

A woman in labor, having experienced severe fatigue, rests after hard work (pulse and respiration rate decrease).

Third stage of labor (postpartum period).

The afterbirth period is the time from the birth of the fetus to the birth of the placenta. During this period, the placenta separates from the walls of the uterus and the birth of the placenta (placenta with membranes and umbilical cord).

In the process of separation of the placenta from the walls of the uterus, the uteroplacental vessels are damaged, which is normally accompanied by blood loss in the amount of 100-200 ml, without adversely affecting the woman's condition. After the birth of the placenta, the uterus contracts sharply, becomes dense, which is necessary to stop bleeding in the area of the placental site; its bottom is in the middle between the womb and the navel.

During this period, the woman's pulse and respiration normalize. Her demeanor is calm. Chills can sometimes be observed (as a reaction to the transferred strong physical stress).

The third period is no longer as exciting and tense as the previous two. The child was born and the matter remains for the small - the separation of the placenta, or placenta. Nature provides for the resumption of contractions a few minutes after the birth of the baby, necessary for effective exfoliation from the uterus of tissues that nourished the fetus during pregnancy (placenta, membranes, umbilical cord).

Three periods of physiological labor - the natural end of a nine-month wait. Most likely, during the birth process itself, the woman in labor will not care what the period or phase of childbirth is now, but it is still desirable to know about them, at least for greater certainty before going to the hospital.

There are contractions, but there is no dilatation - what to do (cervix, uterus)

Pregnancy and childbirth

Stages of cervical dilation , begins to worry and torment himself with terrible guesses. But maybe we should not panic ahead of time?

If there are contractions, but there is no dilatation, do not worry and trust the doctor

Photo: Getty

It is known that the process of dilation of the cervical canal is divided into three stages, and it is impossible to recognize on which of them the uterus is located.

Rare and soft contractions are typical for the early period. They are not painful and do not cause anxiety. The duration of the first period is different for everyone - from several hours to several days. Any special assistance to the woman in labor at this moment is not required.

It's not bad to start preparing the cervix for the birth act a few weeks before the happy event.

Rapid opening of the canal occurs in the second period. At this time, the contractions are noticeably intensified, and the interval between them is reduced. The fetal bladder bursts, and the water leaves. By this moment, the canal should smooth out and open by 5-8 cm.

In the third period, active labor activity begins. The woman feels frequent and painful contractions, the strong pressure of the baby's head on the pelvic floor makes her actively push. The cervical canal opens completely and the baby is born.

There are contractions, but there is no dilatation - what should I do?

The process of preparing for childbirth does not always go smoothly. Often, contractions are already underway, and the cervical canal is not completely open. How to be in this case?

First, stop being nervous. Stress and fear inhibit the production of prostaglandins, which causes muscle spasm and labor activity slows down. Secondly, listen to the doctor and do everything he says.