Pregnant Women Contractions

Pregnant Women Contractions
All What to Expect content that addresses health or safety is medically reviewed by a team of vetted health professionals. Our Medical Review Board includes OB/GYNs, pediatricians, infectious disease specialists, doulas, lactation counselors, endocrinologists, fertility specialists and more.
From the types of contractions you may experience during pregnancy to when to call your practitioner, here's the 411 on the all-important spasms that bring your baby into your arms.
What to Expect When You're Expecting , 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff. WhatToExpect.com , 10 Signs of Labor , February 2020. WhatToExpect.com , Braxton Hicks Contractions , October 2020. WhatToExpect.com , Can Sex During Pregnancy Induce Labor? , August 2020. WhatToExpect.com , What to Do If Your Water Breaks During Pregnancy , April 2019. WhatToExpect.com , Cord Prolapse During Pregnancy , November 2020. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, What Are the Symptoms of Labor? , October 2020. March of Dimes, Contractions and Signs of Labor , December 2018. KidsHealth From Nemours, Are You in Labor? , October 2018. Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Contractions During Pregnancy: What to Expect , September 2018. Kaiser Permanente, Timing Contractions , November 2015. National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, Am I in Labor? October 2019. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health, Labor and Birth , June 2018. Mayo Clinic, Preterm Labor , February 2018. Cleveland Clinic, Umbilical Cord Prolapse , September 2020 March of Dimes, Stages of Labor , March 2019. Society for Endocrinology, Hormones of Pregnancy and Labour , March 2018.
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Braxton Hicks Contractions and False Labor
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Even if you didn’t know much about pregnancy and birth when you conceived, you're no doubt familiar with contractions — your body's uncomfortable but essential means of pushing your baby down the birth canal and out into the world.
But you may not have known that there are several types of contractions, and experiencing them doesn’t always mean you’re about to give birth.
From what contractions feel like to how to know you’re actually in labor, here's what you need to know before delivery.
Early labor contractions can feel like gastrointestinal discomfort, heavy menstrual cramps or lower abdominal pressure.
There are two kinds of contractions you may experience during pregnancy, including:
You’ll know you’re experiencing real labor contractions vs. Braxton Hicks contractions because actual labor contractions:
You may feel pain in just the lower abdomen or in the lower back and abdomen, and the pain may radiate down the legs, particularly the upper thighs.
Keep in mind, however, that location is not the most reliable indication of labor, since you can feel false labor contractions in these places too. Better signs include the frequency, intensity and regularity of your contractions.
The average contraction can vary in length, intensity and frequency depending on your stage of labor:
Your practitioner has likely told you when to call if you think you're in labor (a good rule of thumb: when contractions are five to seven minutes apart).
If you're not sure if you're in real labor but the contractions are coming pretty regularly, pick up the phone anyway. Just don’t wait for perfectly even intervals, which may never come.
Concerned it’s the middle of the night? Don’t feel guilty about waking your doctor — people who deliver babies for a living get plenty of 3 a.m. phone calls and are used to them.
And don’t be embarrassed if it’s a false alarm — you won't be the first (or last) expecting mom to misjudge her labor signs. Besides, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
Your practitioner will want you to answer a few questions, not only to provide information, but also to hear the tone of your voice. As you talk through the contraction, he or she will probably be able to tell whether it’s the real thing — so don’t try to cover up the pain in the name of good phone manners.
Early contractions are real labor contractions that come before you're 37 weeks pregnant. If you experience them and they're getting stronger and more frequent, call your doctor right away and/or head to the hospital if you can't immediately reach your practitioner. It may be a sign that you've gone into labor prematurely.
Be sure to call your practitioner right away — and if you can’t get through, head for the hospital — in the following instances:
No one knows for sure what triggers real labor contractions — they may start with the fetus or the placenta — but wherever they originate, they kick off a chain reaction in the mother that paves the way for the work of prostaglandins and oxytocin, substances that trigger contractions and when all systems are “go.”
You might have noticed that your uterus contracts after you orgasm. Try not to worry — orgasm itself is a contraction of the uterus, after all. Many moms experience contractions after sex that can be powerful and last as long as a half hour.
Unless your practitioner has advised that you avoid orgasm during pregnancy (often because you’re at risk for preterm labor or miscarriage), sex is safe during pregnancy and there’s no reason to be concerned about these types of contractions.
If you've passed the 40-week mark and are officially overdue, you might be wondering how you can start contractions and get this show on the road, already. There are a few techniques that may induce labor naturally , including acupuncture and walking.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting . What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy .
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The educational health content on What To Expect is reviewed by our medical review board and team of experts to be up-to-date and in line with the latest evidence-based medical information and accepted health guidelines, including the medically reviewed What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff. This educational content is not medical or diagnostic advice. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy . © 2022 Everyday Health, Inc

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Learning the signs of labor before your due date can help you feel ready for your baby’s birth.
Signs of labor include strong and regular contractions, pain in your belly and lower back, a bloody mucus discharge and your water breaking.
If you think you’re in labor, call your health care provider.
Not all contractions mean you're in true labor. Learning the difference between true and false labor can help you know when it’s the real thing.
Labor (also called childbirth) is the process of your baby leaving the uterus (womb). You’re in labor when you have regular contractions that cause your cervix to change. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus get tight and then relax. Contractions help push your baby out of your uterus. Your cervix is the opening to the uterus that sits at the top of the vagina. When labor starts, your cervix dilates (opens up).
As you get closer to your due date, learning the signs of labor can help you feel ready for labor and birth. If you have any signs of labor, call your health care provider .
You know you’re in true labor when:
If you think you’re in labor, call your health care provider, no matter what time of day or night. Your provider can tell you if it’s time to head for the hospital. To see for sure that you’re in labor, your health care provider measures your cervix.
You may be close to starting labor if:
If you have any of these signs, you may start labor soon. Learn the signs of labor so you know when to call your provider.
Not all contractions mean you’re in labor. You may have contractions on and off before true labor starts. These contractions are called false labor or Braxton-Hicks contractions. They soften and thin the cervix to help your body get ready for labor and birth. You may feel them in the weeks right before your due date. Learning the differences between true labor contractions and false labor contractions can help you know when you’re really in labor.
It can be hard to tell the difference between true labor and false labor. When you first feel contractions, time them. Write down how much time it takes from the start of one contraction to the start of the next. Make a note of how strong the contractions feel. Keep a record of your contractions for 1 hour. Walk or move around to see if the contractions stop when you change positions.
Preterm labor is labor that begins too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) can have health problems at birth and later in life. If you’re not to 37 weeks of pregnancy and you have signs or symptoms of preterm labor , call your provider. Getting help quickly is the best thing you can do. Learn about risk factors for preterm labor and what you can do to help reduce your risk.
Stages of labor include the whole process of labor, from your first contractions (stage 1) to pushing (stage 2) to delivery of the placenta (stage 3) after your baby is born. Learning about the stages of labor can help you know what to expect during labor and birth.
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As you get closer to your due date, you may begin to wonder about all the different types of contractions in pregnancy. Perhaps you're experiencing contractions now and you're not sure what to do. We've spoken to registered midwife Sheena Byrom about what to expect.
Sheena Byrom (opens in new tab) of All4Maternity, who has been a Registered Midwife for over 40 years, compares contractions in pregnancy. Recognising and distinguishing between types of contractions in pregnancy can be confusing. You might start feeling some contractions in pregnancy as early as the second or third trimester, but these usually won’t be the start of labour. (opens in new tab)
Sheena told us, "Distinguishing between types of contractions is about frequency, duration and intensity. Early contractions feel like period pains. They can usually relieved easily to start with. However, active labour contractions are very intense. They help dilate and thin (efface) the cervix. They are powerful surges that push your baby down.”
Braxton Hicks (opens in new tab) contractions are often known as 'false labour pains'. Although they happen when the body is getting ready for labour, they don't indicate that labour has actually started. Midwife Sheena Byrom says Braxton Hicks contractions in pregnancy "can be very confusing". However, she explains, "Braxton Hicks contractions don't increase in intensity. They're rarely painful, they're temporary and rarely have a pattern."
Braxton Hicks contractions in pregnancy are tightenings that many women will find uncomfortable. Medical studies show (opens in new tab) they can start at 6 weeks but won’t be felt until you’re in your second or third trimester. Sometimes known as “practice” contractions in pregnancy, they help your uterus ready itself for labour.
Recognising Braxton Hicks contractions Braxton Hicks contractions in pregnancy vary in strength and how long they last. They do not form a recognisable pattern. They happen infrequently and are uncomfortable rather than painful.
What do Braxton Hicks contractions mean? Studies show (opens in new tab) that Braxton Hicks contractions in pregnancy can happen when you’ve not been resting enough, you have a full bladder or you have not had enough to drink. They don’t mean that you are about to start labour. They are completely normal, but not all women will experience them.
How to deal with Braxton Hicks contractions If you’re feeling uncomfortable because of your Braxton Hicks contractions, visit the toilet, sit down and have a drink. If you’re worried about your contractions and you have any vaginal bleeding, your waters break or you are in a lot of pain, contact your maternity unit immediately.
Early labour contractions are an important first step towards meeting your new baby. Midwife Sheena Byrom explains, “They may feel uncomfortable, like period pains, and they differ from Braxton Hicks because they will eventually increase in their intensity. The earliest contractions in pregnancy don’t necessarily open your cervix. These early contractions soften and thin (efface) your cervix. This helps it move it into position, ready for the later stages of labour (opens in new tab) ”.
Why can early labour contractions start? According to many experts , “the exact sequence of events that leads to uterine contractions is still largely unknown”. However, studies (opens in new tab) show that hormones, including oxytocin, progesterone and oestrogen, play an important part in starting labour. Early labour contractions in pregnancy can be accompanied by other early signs of labour. (opens in new tab) These include los
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