What does uterine contractions feel like

Signs of Labor (Cervical Effacement) During Pregnancy

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

What Are the Signs of Labor?

Labor is another word for your body’s natural process of childbirth. It starts with your first steady contractions and goes through the delivery of both your baby and placenta.

Some women have very distinct signs of labor, while others don’t. No one knows what causes labor to start or when it will start, but several hormonal and physical changes help indicate the beginning of labor.

Lightening during labor

The process of your baby settling or lowering into your pelvis just before labor is called lightening. It’s also referred to as the baby “dropping. ”

Lightening can happen a few weeks or a few hours before labor.
Because the uterus rests on the bladder more after lightening, you may feel the need to urinate more often.
But the extra room in your upper abdomen may make it easier to breathe and relieve heartburn.

Passing of the mucus plug

The mucus plug accumulates at the cervix during pregnancy. When the cervix begins to open wider, the mucus is discharged into the vagina. It may be clear, pink, or slightly bloody. This is also known as “show” or “bloody show.” Labor may begin soon after the mucus plug is discharged or one to two weeks later.

Labor contractions

Contractions are the tightening of the muscles of the uterus. During contractions, the abdomen becomes hard. Between contractions, the uterus relaxes and the abdomen becomes soft. The way a contraction feels is different for each woman, and it may feel different from one pregnancy to the next.

Labor contractions usually cause discomfort or a dull ache in your back and lower abdomen, along with pressure in the pelvis.
Contractions move in a wave-like motion from the top of the uterus to the bottom.
Some women describe contractions as strong menstrual cramps.
Unlike false labor contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions, true labor contractions don’t stop when you change your position or relax.
Although they may be uncomfortable, you’ll be able to relax in between contractions.

Diarrhea

You may notice your poops are loose or watery. This may mean you are within a day or two of labor beginning.

Weight loss

While you’re pregnant, it may seem like you’re never going to stop gaining weight. But many women actually lose a few pounds in the days leading up to labor.

Nesting instinct

Some women find themselves with an urge to get ready shortly before their baby’s arrival. That’s known as the nesting instinct.

You may have a sudden burst of energy after weeks of feeling more and more tired.
You may feel like shopping, cooking, or cleaning the house.
Be careful not to overdo it. Childbirth will take a lot of energy.

Activity of the baby

Your baby may move less as you get closer to the start of labor, but let your doctor know. It can sometimes be a sign of a problem.

Cramps and back pain

It may be hard to recognize a contraction, especially with your first baby. Many women have what feels like menstrual cramps in the lower abdomen. They may stay the same or they may come and go. You might also have pain in your lower back that either stays or comes and goes.

Looser joints

If you find yourself “waddling” as your pregnancy winds down, that’s just your body getting ready for the job ahead. A hormone called relaxin loosens up the ligaments around your pelvis to make it easier for the baby to pass through.

Water breaking

The rupture of the amniotic membrane (the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the baby during pregnancy) may happen before you get to the hospital.

It may feel either like a sudden gush of fluid or a trickle of fluid that leaks steadily.
The fluid is usually odorless and may look clear or straw-colored.
If your "water breaks," write down the time this happens, how much fluid is released, and what the fluid looks like, then let your health care provider know. They’ll advise you what to do next.
Not all women have their water break when they’re in labor. Many times the doctor will rupture the amniotic membrane in the hospital.

Effacement

During labor, your cervix gets shorter and thins out in order to stretch and open around your baby's head. The shortening and thinning of the cervix is called effacement. Your health care provider will be able to tell you if there are changes to the cervix during a pelvic exam.

Effacement is measured in percentages from 0% to 100%. If there are no changes to the cervix, it is described as 0% effaced. When the cervix is half the normal thickness, it is 50% effaced. When the cervix is completely thinned out, it is 100% effaced.

Dilation

The stretching and opening of your cervix is called dilation and is measured in centimeters, with complete dilation being at 10 centimeters.

Effacement and dilation are a direct result of effective uterine contractions. Progress in labor is measured by how much the cervix has opened and thinned to allow your baby to pass through the vagina.

What's the Difference Between True Labor and False Labor?

Before "true" labor begins, you may have "false" labor pains, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These irregular uterine contractions are perfectly normal and may start to occur in your second trimester, although more commonly in your third trimester of pregnancy. They are your body's way of getting ready for the "real thing."

What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like?

Braxton Hicks contractions can be described as a tightening in the abdomen that comes and goes. These contractions do not get closer together, do not increase with walking, do not increase in duration, and do not feel stronger over time as they do when you are in true labor.

How do I know when I am in true labor?

To figure out if the contractions you are feeling are the real thing, ask yourself the following questions.

Contraction Characteristics	False Labor	True Labor
How often do the contractions occur?	Contractions are often irregular and do not get closer together.	Contractions come at regular intervals and last about 30-70 seconds. As time progresses, they get closer together.
Do they change with movement?	Contractions may stop when you walk or rest, or may even stop if you change positions.	Contractions continue despite movement or changing positions.
How strong are they?	Contractions are usually weak and do not get much stronger. Or they may be strong at first and then get weaker.	Contractions steadily increase in strength.
Where do you feel the pain?	Contractions are usually only felt in the front of the abdomen or pelvic region.	Contractions usually start in the lower back and move to the front of the abdomen.

Time Your Contractions

When you think you are in true labor, start timing your contractions. To do this, write down the time each contraction starts and stops or have someone do it for you. The time between contractions includes the length or duration of the contraction and the minutes in between the contractions (called the interval).

Mild contractions generally begin 15 to 20 minutes apart and last 60 to 90 seconds. The contractions become more regular until they are less than 5 minutes apart. Active labor (the time you should come into the hospital) is usually characterized by strong contractions that last 45 to 60 seconds and occur 3 to 4 minutes apart.

Try to Relax

It’s best to go through the first stage of labor (called the Latent Phase) in the comfort of your home. Here are some tips to help you manage:

Distract yourself -- take a walk, watch a movie.
Soak in a warm tub or take a warm shower. But, ask your health care provider if you can take a tub bath if your water has broken.
Rest. Try to sleep or take a nap if it is in the evening. You need to store up your energy for active labor.

When Should I Call My Health Care Provider or Go to the Hospital?

When you suspect you are in true labor, call your health care provider. Also, call:

If you think your water has broken.
If you’re bleeding (more than spotting).
If the baby seems to be moving less than normal.
When your contractions are very uncomfortable and have been coming every 5 minutes for an hour.
If you have any of the signs of labor, but you haven’t reached your 37th week of pregnancy. You may be going into labor before your baby is ready and will need medical help right away.

Your health care provider will give you specific guidelines about when you should get ready to come to the hospital.

Signs of Labor (Cervical Effacement) During Pregnancy

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

What Are the Signs of Labor?

Labor is another word for your body’s natural process of childbirth. It starts with your first steady contractions and goes through the delivery of both your baby and placenta.

Lightening during labor

The process of your baby settling or lowering into your pelvis just before labor is called lightening. It’s also referred to as the baby “dropping.”

Lightening can happen a few weeks or a few hours before labor.
Because the uterus rests on the bladder more after lightening, you may feel the need to urinate more often.
But the extra room in your upper abdomen may make it easier to breathe and relieve heartburn.

Passing of the mucus plug

Labor contractions

Labor contractions usually cause discomfort or a dull ache in your back and lower abdomen, along with pressure in the pelvis.
Contractions move in a wave-like motion from the top of the uterus to the bottom.
Some women describe contractions as strong menstrual cramps.
Unlike false labor contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions, true labor contractions don’t stop when you change your position or relax.
Although they may be uncomfortable, you’ll be able to relax in between contractions.

Diarrhea

You may notice your poops are loose or watery. This may mean you are within a day or two of labor beginning.

Weight loss

While you’re pregnant, it may seem like you’re never going to stop gaining weight. But many women actually lose a few pounds in the days leading up to labor.

Nesting instinct

Some women find themselves with an urge to get ready shortly before their baby’s arrival. That’s known as the nesting instinct.

You may have a sudden burst of energy after weeks of feeling more and more tired.
You may feel like shopping, cooking, or cleaning the house.
Be careful not to overdo it. Childbirth will take a lot of energy.

Activity of the baby

Your baby may move less as you get closer to the start of labor, but let your doctor know. It can sometimes be a sign of a problem.

Cramps and back pain

Looser joints

Water breaking

The rupture of the amniotic membrane (the fluid-filled sac that surrounds the baby during pregnancy) may happen before you get to the hospital.

It may feel either like a sudden gush of fluid or a trickle of fluid that leaks steadily.
The fluid is usually odorless and may look clear or straw-colored.
If your "water breaks," write down the time this happens, how much fluid is released, and what the fluid looks like, then let your health care provider know. They’ll advise you what to do next.
Not all women have their water break when they’re in labor. Many times the doctor will rupture the amniotic membrane in the hospital.

Effacement

Dilation

The stretching and opening of your cervix is called dilation and is measured in centimeters, with complete dilation being at 10 centimeters.

What's the Difference Between True Labor and False Labor?

What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like?

How do I know when I am in true labor?

To figure out if the contractions you are feeling are the real thing, ask yourself the following questions.

Contraction Characteristics	False Labor	True Labor
How often do the contractions occur?	Contractions are often irregular and do not get closer together.	Contractions come at regular intervals and last about 30-70 seconds. As time progresses, they get closer together.
Do they change with movement?	Contractions may stop when you walk or rest, or may even stop if you change positions.	Contractions continue despite movement or changing positions.
How strong are they?	Contractions are usually weak and do not get much stronger. Or they may be strong at first and then get weaker.	Contractions steadily increase in strength.
Where do you feel the pain?	Contractions are usually only felt in the front of the abdomen or pelvic region.	Contractions usually start in the lower back and move to the front of the abdomen.

Time Your Contractions

Try to Relax

It’s best to go through the first stage of labor (called the Latent Phase) in the comfort of your home. Here are some tips to help you manage:

Distract yourself -- take a walk, watch a movie.
Soak in a warm tub or take a warm shower. But, ask your health care provider if you can take a tub bath if your water has broken.
Rest. Try to sleep or take a nap if it is in the evening. You need to store up your energy for active labor.

When Should I Call My Health Care Provider or Go to the Hospital?

When you suspect you are in true labor, call your health care provider. Also, call:

If you think your water has broken.
If you’re bleeding (more than spotting).
If the baby seems to be moving less than normal.
When your contractions are very uncomfortable and have been coming every 5 minutes for an hour.
If you have any of the signs of labor, but you haven’t reached your 37th week of pregnancy. You may be going into labor before your baby is ready and will need medical help right away.

Your health care provider will give you specific guidelines about when you should get ready to come to the hospital.

false or real / “Waiting for a baby”

February

Shortly before the birth, the expectant mother may be disturbed by training contractions, rhythmic contractions of the uterus, which quickly pass and appear occasionally. How to distinguish them from real contractions, and why they are needed, we will try to find out.

For the first time, the phenomenon of temporary contractions was described by the English doctor John Braxton Hicks. That is why they are called - Braxton Hicks contractions or false, training contractions, precursor contractions. In his scientific work of 1872, he argued that these contractions are short-term (from half a minute to 2 minutes) contractions of the muscles of the uterus, which are felt by a pregnant woman as an increase in the tone of the uterus. They appear after the 20th week of pregnancy. And during the day they happen often, but the expectant mother in the daytime may not even notice them. However, as time goes on, they intensify, becoming more and more obvious.

WHAT FALSE PARTS ARE FOR

The uterus is a muscular organ. And like any muscle that has to perform the work allotted to it in the body, it needs training. After all, if she hangs for all forty weeks like a bag, she will not cope with the load in childbirth. Thus, the purpose of training or false contractions is to prepare the uterus and cervix for childbirth. That is why one of the names of training bouts is contractions harbingers - harbingers of an approaching birth.

ARE FALSE PARTS PAINFUL

As a rule, false contractions are painless, but with increasing duration they become more noticeable and bring more discomfort. However, in all women, they manifest themselves in different ways, someone does not feel them at all, and someone does not sleep at night, tossing and turning and trying to find a comfortable position for sleeping. It all depends on the pain threshold. The main thing in this situation is to stop being nervous about this and calm yourself with the thought that such training is necessary for the most important upcoming event - the birth of your crumbs. And to calm down a little and sleep better, ask your doctor to prescribe a sedative for you and get a special pillow for expectant and nursing mothers. With her, falling asleep and experiencing the discomfort of the last weeks of pregnancy will be much easier!

HOW TO LIVE WITH FREQUENT PARTS

Some moms-to-be complain that their Braxton Hicks contractions are frequent and cause significant discomfort, even when they are doing housework or other light physical activities. In such a situation, obstetricians are advised to lie down or vice versa, take an easy walk, in any case, change the type of activity. If training contractions bother you a lot, it is recommended to drink a glass of water, juice or herbal tea, calm down and get some rest. Ask someone close to give you a massage. Lie in silence. And to also benefit from training fights, try doing breathing exercises: practice breathing techniques in childbirth in practice.

HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE TRAINING FROM BIRTH BRIPS

The most important thing to understand is that real contractions are much more painful than Braxton Hicks contractions. You will understand it right away. In addition, the contractions that bring you closer to childbirth are more regular. The contractions begin in the lower back, spread to the front of the abdomen, and occur every 10 minutes (or more than 5 contractions per hour). Then they occur with an interval of about 30-70 seconds and over time the intervals between them are reduced. Some women describe the sensations of labor pains as severe menstrual cramps, or sensations during diarrhea, when the pain rolls in waves in the abdomen. These contractions, unlike false ones, continue even after a change in position and when walking, constantly intensifying. As soon as you feel all these symptoms, call your ob-gyn - hour X has arrived. If in doubt, also do not be afraid to disturb the doctor. The doctor will ask you a few questions that will help him determine the type of contractions and eliminate all your doubts and worries. After all, it is always better to consult a doctor and trust his professional experience.

You should seek help if:

• you have more than four contractions an hour and they happen regularly
• contractions are accompanied by pain in the lower spine
• contractions are accompanied by watery or bloody vaginal discharge
• the contractions are so strong that it is very difficult for you to endure them
• there is a noticeable change in the child's movement, or less than 10 movements every 2 hours
• you think your waters have started to break

Alla Misyutina, Medical Consultant, Independent Laboratory INVITRO

Dear women, during labor, the body needs a lot of oxygen, so proper breathing is very important. A large influx of oxygen into the blood of mother and baby alleviates the condition of the crumbs, which during childbirth experiences oxygen starvation. Special breathing techniques help to properly open the birth canal and make contractions and attempts as effective as possible.

Different types of breathing should be used at different stages of labor.

• During "false" contractions, breathing should be deep and slow. During the period when the contractions become more intense, it is necessary to use "pain-relieving breathing". This breathing is slow, deep, the inhalation is done through the nose, it should be longer than the exhalation through the mouth. More details: inhale is done at the expense of 1-2-3-4, and exhale - at the expense of 1-2-3-4-5-6. With the help of such breathing: mom relaxes, distracts from pain, focuses on the score; the baby receives as much as possible, so he needs oxygen.
• In breaks from contractions, you need to rest and breathe evenly without any effort, so that you can then easily follow the doctor's recommendations.
• During attempts, you need to exhale all the air from the lungs, then take a deep breath and push for up to 6-9 seconds. Quickly exhale all the air, quickly take a deep breath and again hold your breath for 6-9 seconds, and so on - about three times per attempt.
• In breaks from attempts to rest and breathe deeply, evenly and relaxed.
• It is very important to only push on the perineum and never push on the head. In this case, all efforts are wasted and will appear in the form of burst vessels in the eyes and on the face.
• In the period after the birth of the head, it is necessary to stop pushing and breathing shallowly, some call this breathing “dog-like”, deep breathing can harm both mom and baby. Then everything goes on as usual, the main thing is to obey the doctor.
• After the baby was born, within half an hour the last stage of labor begins - the birth of the placenta. Special breathing is no longer required, at the doctor's command, push a little into the perineum and EVERYTHING! Dear women, pain during childbirth is good, it means that your baby will be born soon. There is no need to resist the pain, this is a mistake that brings a woman and a child nothing but fatigue. On the contrary, it is necessary to concentrate and help in every possible way to give birth to a healthy baby.

BIRTH PASSES

So, you have decided that this is no longer a “teaching”, but the beginning of childbirth. In addition to contractions, the onset of labor can be indicated by the outflow of amniotic fluid and the passage of a mucous plug that closes the lumen of the cervix. The mucous plug can also come off 2-3 days before delivery. However, her departure does not always mean that it is time to go to the hospital. During pregnancy, the cervix is tightly closed. With the onset of labor pains, its opening begins: the cervix of the uterus gradually expands to 10-12 cm in diameter (full disclosure). The birth canal is preparing to "release" the child from the womb. Intrauterine pressure increases during contractions as the uterus shrinks. And in the end, this leads to rupture of the fetal bladder and the outflow of part of the amniotic fluid.

The first, preparatory, period of labor for women giving birth for the first time takes an average of 12 hours, and 2-4 hours less for those who have second births. At the beginning of the second stage of labor, contractions join the contractions - contractions of the muscles of the abdominal wall and diaphragm. In addition to the fact that different muscle groups are involved in contractions and attempts, they have one more important difference: contractions are an involuntary and uncontrollable phenomenon, neither their strength nor frequency depend on the woman in labor, while attempts to a certain extent obey her will , it can delay or strengthen them. Therefore, at this stage of childbirth, a lot depends on the expectant mother and her ability to quickly and correctly follow the commands of the obstetrician taking delivery. And most importantly - to tune in correctly and not allow panic and thoughts about something bad. Obstetricians and gynecologists recommend that mothers perceive childbirth as a holiday, a baby's birthday. Then it will be easier to concentrate on the fact that now your main task is to help the baby be born. If, during childbirth, the expectant mother panics, the concentration of adrenaline in her blood will increase significantly. Which will not have a very good effect on the process of childbirth. Adrenaline affects the synthesis of oxytocin, which significantly weakens contractions and slows down the process of childbirth. In addition, adrenaline completely blocks the production of endorphins, which will increase the feeling of pain during contractions and attempts. That is why it is so important to properly tune in, concentrate and help the baby to be born as soon as possible.

Lilia Egorova

What are training bouts? | VOKB №1

As you know, the birth of a baby is preceded by labor pains. Contractions are contractions of the walls of the uterus - a natural physiological process.

It is not uncommon for the uterus to contract during pregnancy, but many women do not notice this. And those who are preparing to become mothers for the first time, on the contrary, perceive these contractions as a danger to the course of pregnancy and the unborn child. Therefore, it is very important that every pregnant woman be informed about training bouts at the earliest possible date. Women who have undergone theoretical training are more attentive to their health and observe the changes taking place. They can recognize for themselves when they are having training contractions and know how to respond to them.

Training contractions (or false contractions) are contractions of the uterine walls that do not dilate the cervix. They are for the female body a preparatory stage for future childbirth. False contractions are very important for labor, as they help smooth and soften the cervix and prepare it for the upcoming birth. The duration of muscle tension can be about 2 minutes. And their frequency of manifestation is up to several times per hour. False contractions do not increase in frequency or intensity. The term of occurrence occurs in the second and third trimester.

The main symptoms of training contractions:

A feeling of constriction and aching pain in the groin and lower abdomen.
Irregularity and irregularity of contractions.
Appear in only one area of the abdomen.
Contractions can occur up to 6 times per hour.
False contractions do not radiate to the back, as happens with real contractions.
Does not cause severe pain. Inattentive women may not even notice such contractions.
Gradually disappear. After a small amount of time, the uterus calms down and becomes soft.

Reasons for the appearance of training contractions:

excessive activity, physical activity;
moving actions of the developing fetus
psycho-emotional stress, worries and worries due to future childbirth;
Bladder fullness;
Having sex during pregnancy.

In most cases, a woman can avoid training uterine contractions on her own. Pregnant women need to drink the required amount of water, not be nervous and remain calm until the very birth. It is not recommended to call training bouts on your own, because. the body is individual, and if false contractions do not appear, then there is no need for training for the body.

But if symptoms appear, they must be used for the purpose of practicing breathing exercises. Proper breathing will help alleviate the condition of the pregnant woman during labor.

Several methods of correct breathing:

After the end of the contraction, take a deep breath, and exhale slowly during the contraction.
Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose, then exhale briefly through the mouth.
Take frequent, shallow breaths during the next contraction. However, this method, due to the low supply of oxygen, can lead to dizziness

What to do if you have training contractions?