As you approach the time of birth, there are plenty of changes and new sensations happening daily. One of those changes is having more Braxton-Hicks contractions, which is a type of "practice contraction" for your uterus. You might notice that they begin to come with greater frequency in the last several weeks before your due date.
How then will you be able to recognize a true contraction from all of those Braxton-Hicks contractions? Here are some ways to know what a contraction feels like as opposed to just the typical practice of the uterus in the last weeks of pregnancy:
- Contractions are felt in multiple places. Braxton-Hicks contractions are typically felt right in your tummy. True labor contractions will be felt in multiple places such as your lower back, in the lower part of your abdomen, your upper thighs, buttocks and hips.
- Contractions may feel like menstrual cramps. Unlike practice contractions that feel like your tummy muscles are tightening up, true contractions may start out feeling more like a menstrual cramp.
- Contractions become rhythmic and begin and end with a pattern.One of the definite ways to recognize a true contraction is that they will have a predictable rhythm and a wave-like pattern where they slowly build, come to a peak and then decline. Braxton-Hicks or pre-labor contractions typically come without any definite pattern.
- Contractions progress over time. This is one way you can tell a real contraction since over a number of hours, they will intensity. Practice contractions do not progress.
- Contractions become closer together.True labor contractions gradually get closer and closer as labor progresses. They may start out as far as 30 minutes apart and eventually reach intervals of only 2-3 minutes apart.
- Contractions get longer.In the beginning of labor, it is not unusual to time contractions that are 30 seconds in duration. By the time you are nearing the pushing stage, your contractions will lengthen to about 90 seconds.
An important thing to remember about labor and identifying contractions is that even though there are ways to tell if you are contracting, every mother may not feel or experience the same patterns. For example, in some cases a mother may only feel contractions in her lower back, known as "back labor". Another may experience contractions only in her lower abdomen. Some may have contractions that progress but never really have a rhythmic pattern to them.
Be assured that no matter how contractions feel to you, your body knows just what to do in order to give birth!
Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
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