Contractions before childbirth, which can be training or false and real labor - how to learn to distinguish between them? At what point should you understand that it is time to go to the maternity hospital or call an ambulance? Do I need to have special education or use any programs to understand what is happening to the body?

Labor pains are something that all expectant mothers really look forward to and at the same time fear. It is bad if labor begins before 37-38 weeks. For this reason, you can and should know when you need to urgently consult a doctor. Indeed, in many cases, if labor contractions have begun, there is time and opportunity to stop them and, if necessary, carry out drug therapy to accelerate the maturation of the fetal lungs. It is carried out up to 34-35 weeks. A woman is injected with a hormonal drug - dexamethasone. If such a preventive measure is carried out, the child’s chances of survival and good health increase sharply. And it is likely that after birth there will be no need to keep him on a ventilator, which means there will be no risk of developing pneumonia.

Many women are very afraid of premature birth and immediately rush to the doctor. On the one hand, this is correct. But worrying doesn’t do any good either. Such anxious expectant mothers often ask why they dream about labor pains, miscarriages, caesarean sections - psychologists answer that it’s all about the psychological mood, subconscious fear. It may make sense to drink valerian or another natural sedative approved during pregnancy.

What are labor pains like, and what do women who have already given birth usually write about them? They are usually described as severe menstrual pain. And with the opening of the cervix, it grows more and more. And closer to pushing, a very strong desire to push appears. By the way, it is undesirable to do this while the cervical dilatation is less than 10 cm, since ruptures may form in the cervix and capillaries in the eyes may burst. In this case, the midwife should tell you how to breathe correctly to relieve discomfort.

But often the onset of labor pains is not so intense. Many women cannot understand that this may be uterine hypertonicity, which many expectant mothers are familiar with. Labor pains provoke different sensations, usually it all starts with a hardening of the abdomen and slight pulling sensations below the navel and in the lumbar region. And this repeats every 15-20 minutes - this is the standard interval between labor contractions. Tangible painful sensations appear, which only increase and become longer in waves. Pain during labor is very individual in its intensity. Of course, a lot depends on the woman’s pain threshold, on her ability to relax, use some non-drug painkillers, and breathe correctly. The pain and duration of labor pains are dramatically reduced in women who experience most of their labor under epidural anesthesia. Often this type of pain relief is done not just at the request of a woman for her comfort, but for medical purposes. For example, when, due to some illness, it is harmful for a woman to strain, strain, or experience severe pain. When a woman is in her first stage of labor, labor pains may not be felt at all, which is a major breakthrough in obstetrics and gynecology.

But not always, even when the expected date of birth of a child arrives, the woman immediately begins real labor. Labor or real contractions are contractions of the uterus, which contribute to the opening of the cervix with the subsequent discharge of amniotic fluid. If the doctor notes that the cervix is ​​dilating too slowly, it can either be a sign of weak labor or that these are training contractions (Braxton-Hicks contractions), that is, not labor at all.

This feature of the pregnant uterus can appear both at a later stage and in the middle of pregnancy. Moreover, in short periods of time, such contractions, in some cases, can contribute to premature dilatation of the cervix and even provoke premature birth. If a woman often has uterine contractions, even painless ones, the doctor does not try to recognize labor or training contractions by description, but simply conducts a gynecological examination to roughly determine the consistency and length of the cervix. If necessary, refers to determination of these parameters using a vaginal ultrasound sensor. There are no signs of labor contractions, and this phenomenon is considered simply “training” if the cervix does not react to it in any way. And the cervix usually reacts only in those women who have isthmic-cervical insufficiency. With it, there may be excess muscle tissue in the cervical area.

The closer the day of birth gets, the more excited the expectant mother is in her soul and the more scared she is from the thought that contractions will soon begin. There are a lot of questions in my head and complete uncertainty: what, when and how?

Don't panic; contractions in anticipation of labor
Expectant mother detention
Symptoms of false contractions Support

When contractions begin, there is no need to panic. First of all, you need to calm down, take a deep breath and figure out whether these are contractions before childbirth or whether they are false. In order to understand exactly what is happening to you, you should remember the signs of contractions before childbirth, and then calculate the interval between them, since “false pains” differ from pain before childbirth.

Signs of this feature

First, let's get acquainted with the symptoms of contractions before childbirth.

1. A week or two before giving birth, most women experience what is called “abdominal prolapse.” At the same time, it becomes easier for the expectant mother to breathe, her gait changes, and sitting becomes uncomfortable.
2. One of the main signs of contractions before childbirth is the release of the mucus plug - this is a discharge that can be copious or not very abundant, leave at once or over a period of time. They resemble mucus in consistency, as the name implies.
3. The sensations during labor contractions are different from “false” sensations. In the first case, the pain will only intensify over time, and in the second, it may remain the same and then disappear altogether.
4. The frequency of contractions should be measured, that is, the frequency with which they recur. Only during labor contractions will the frequency strictly decrease over time. With a false variant, the time between abdominal contractions may either increase or decrease.
5. You should calculate the interval, that is, the period of time that the contraction itself, the spasm itself, lasts. At the very beginning, contractions before childbirth last a few seconds, eventually reaching 1-2 minutes, while false ones usually do not increase over time.

Don't panic during contractions

Below is a small sign that will help distinguish false contractions from labor ones.

How to relieve pain?

Below are simple but effective ways to help you ease your contractions in the run-up to labor.

1. You shouldn't be left alone in terms of moral support. If your husband is not at home and cannot come home soon, call your mother. If mom can’t do it either, then don’t hesitate to invite friends, other relatives, even neighbors, if you have a good relationship with them. The main thing is that you feel comfortable with this person.
2. You shouldn't be alone in terms of help. When you determine that contractions have begun before childbirth, you should immediately go to the maternity hospital. Here you will need help carrying the package to the car or even just getting your jacket and boots on.
3. Need to move more. You shouldn’t lie down, much less sit on the sofa and endure, you won’t be able to sleep anyway. You will have to endure it for a long time, so it is better to mind your own business in between seizures. While grasping, you should try to find a comfortable body position, and wait out the subsequent pain in this position.
4. Ask someone nearby to massage your back—lower back massage helps many people.
5. Breathing is a very long topic to think about. You can attend courses, watch videos of what contractions look like before labor begins, listen to stories from friends. Most likely, before giving birth you will only remember how to recognize contractions, and forget everything else. So just breathe, don’t hold your breath and try not to focus on it.
6. A warm shower or bath will help you relax and get some rest. The main thing is not to miss when your water breaks.
7. Some women find that swinging on a fitball helps.
8. During grasping, there is no need to restrain your emotions and be ashamed of anything. This is your day: if you want to cry - cry, scream - scream, take a shower 5 times - go.

As a rule, doctors advise coming to the maternity hospital when the interval between contractions is 10 minutes, and the duration of the seizure is about 1 minute. This applies to first-time mothers. If you are worried or afraid, then it is better to go right away, since it is strictly forbidden for the expectant mother to be nervous.

It's time to give birth

It is better for multiparous women to go earlier, since all processes proceed faster for them. If you have the strength, then it is better to carry out some hygiene procedures at home yourself. As soon as your water breaks, you need to immediately go to the maternity hospital.

Things for the maternity hospital should be collected in advance. It is better to prepare 3 packages: you will take one with you to the maternity hospital immediately, the second one will be brought to you by relatives or friends after the baby is born, and the third one you will need only before discharge.

What is grasping?

Probably all expectant mothers are interested in how contractions occur, what sensations does a woman experience before giving birth? We can safely say that absolutely all births and contractions are different. Even for one woman, the first and second pregnancies will be different, as will the birth.

Let's try to describe what a woman experiences during contractions before childbirth.

1. Nagging pain in the lower abdomen.
2. Nagging pain in the lumbar region, sometimes spreading throughout the entire back.
3. Pain in the coccyx area.
4. During the break between seizures, pain may be absent altogether, or may be insignificant.
5. At first, when the interval between contractions reaches 20-30 minutes, the woman can go about her business, pausing for contractions, but the pain is very slight. At this stage you will not need any special posture or breathing.
6. Each contraction becomes a little more painful. After 2-3 hours the pain is already significant and you won’t be able to just wait it out. You can breathe, sit down or bend over, depending on what position you choose.
7. At some point, the clutching will develop into pushing. During this period, the woman really wants to push, but this cannot be done without the doctor’s permission. It’s really difficult to restrain yourself, but you have to try really hard.
8. The attempts don't last long. On the one hand, you experience relief after contractions, since the sensations are less painful and completely different, on the other hand, it is really very difficult to restrain the desire to push.
9. When the doctor allows you to push, know that if everything goes well, it will soon be over and your baby will be next to you.
10. The process of giving birth to a baby is the shortest in labor, often taking 10-30 minutes, while the period of contractions can last up to 20 hours.

On the eve of childbirth

Methods for inducing seizures

Sometimes doctors have to specifically induce contractions. Here are some ways they can use.

1. Give an injection of a drug that relaxes the muscles.
2. Offer a no-shpa tablet, which also relaxes the muscles.
3. Offer you physical activity, if time allows: walking up the stairs, stretching up with your arms raised to the sky, or driving a car along a bumpy road.

Almost every woman goes through this entire journey at least once in her life. There is no need to be afraid of childbirth and labor; it is better to prepare for them, both mentally and physically. Over time, they are remembered as something good and bright, which was only the threshold of the birth of your baby.

Find out and also the truth about

The information published on the website is for informational purposes only and is intended for informational purposes only. Site visitors should not use them as medical advice! The site editors do not recommend self-medication. Determining the diagnosis and choosing a treatment method remains the exclusive prerogative of your attending physician! Remember that only complete diagnosis and therapy under the supervision of a doctor will help you completely get rid of the disease!

By the way, when pushing, you definitely need to push down, into the stomach, and not into the head. The doctor will explain this during the birth process. Alternatively, you can take air into your mouth, as when diving, and try to push, then it will turn out exactly as it should. At the same time, the obstetrician will control and suggest with what intensity you need to push and how to breathe correctly. This is also taught in courses or special lectures for pregnant women.

This is followed by the birth of the baby, after some time the afterbirth (placenta) is born. Ideally, the baby should be put to the breast immediately, since drops of colostrum immediately after birth are the most valuable thing for a newborn baby. After this, the doctor treats the woman’s birth canal, a heating pad with ice is placed on her stomach so that the uterus contracts better, and now the mother is transferred from the labor room to the ward.

• The second scenario is when contractions do not begin first, but amniotic fluid breaks. By the way, this moment is very important, you should not miss it under any circumstances, you should immediately call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital. After all, if the waters break, it means the amniotic sac has burst, and now the child does not have the usual amnia fluid and no oxygen; if the baby is in this situation for a long time, the baby may begin to experience hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and if contractions do not begin, they will have to be stimulated introduction of special drugs. Then the birth proceeds according to the scenario described above.

There are also cases when natural delivery is impossible for a number of reasons: entanglement of the umbilical cord, breech presentation, other pathologies that are detected during pregnancy, you have to do a planned or emergency cesarean section, but that’s another story and I’ll write about that in another article.

False contractions

Some women may experience false contractions after pregnancy, also called Braxton-Hicks contractions. They do not contribute to the dilatation of the cervix and are not a harbinger of labor. During them, painful sensations do not occur as much as with real ones; the intervals between them are uneven.

If you put your hand on your stomach, you feel a tense uterus. A walk or a warm shower will help relieve the discomfort. They arise due to overstrain of the uterus, causing the cervix to shorten and soften. They are harmless and go away on their own. Only if they occur every day and cause discomfort, be sure to consult a doctor.

How to survive contractions

All women have different pain thresholds, and there have even been cases when a woman in labor barely feels them, but these are isolated cases that are the exception rather than the rule.

Yes, first-time girls can mistake extraneous pains, including false ones, for true ones, but real contractions, when they begin, are difficult to confuse with something else. Regardless of how long the contractions last, to relieve pain it is recommended:

• Massage your lower back in the tailbone area.
• Ideally, agree with your husband or another loved one about help during contractions, so that he gives a massage, helps you walk, or distracts you.
• A warm shower also helps, making pain easier to bear.
• Do not lie on your back, if possible move, at least lie on your side. In some maternity hospitals, as usual, women are not allowed to stand up or walk during contractions; check these points in advance and choose a maternity hospital where free behavior during childbirth is encouraged. For some, sitting on a fit ball, squatting, walking, bending helps, everything is individual. Just don't sit on a hard surface during contractions, especially if your water has broken.
• Sometimes standing on all fours and rocking helps.

In the intervals between contractions, you should try to rest as much as possible. Also, try not to be tense. Yes, it’s difficult, because when it hurts, you forget about various tips and recommendations, and only think about how to alleviate your condition. So, it is advisable to learn relaxation even before giving birth: meditate, do yoga.

Precursors of labor before contractions begin

About two weeks before giving birth, a woman’s hormonal levels change. If during all nine months of pregnancy the main “actor” was progesterone, which was responsible for the tone of the uterus, normal development of the fetus, and cervical mucus, now estrogens take first place. Progesterone concentration decreases. The patency and elasticity of the birth canal: the cervix and vagina are provided by estrogens.

It is thanks to hormones and their certain concentration that the birth process starts. There are several relative warning signs. Why relative? Because from them it is impossible to understand whether your labor will begin in a week or in an hour, but at least they make it clear that this will happen in the near future and that the body is ready.

• The mucus plug - the mucus that closes the cervical canal that forms in the fifth week of pregnancy and protects the baby from infection - comes off several hours or days before delivery.
• The abdomen goes down (the fundus of the uterus goes down, the baby's head approaches the pelvic inlet), it becomes easier for the woman to breathe, and the pressure on the diaphragm decreases.
• Leakage of amniotic fluid. Attention, if there is such a suspicion or if the secreted liquid is greenish or grayish, you should urgently consult a doctor, this indicates fetal hypoxia. Normally, amniotic fluid is transparent, and its volume is on average 800 ml, but with polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios, this figure may be different.
• Sometimes in women, when the baby's head lowers into the base of the pelvis, swelling and even cramps may occur, this is due to pressure on the blood vessels.
• Dull and aching pain in the lower back is also a harbinger of imminent labor - this indicates an expansion of the pelvic bones in the sacroiliac region. Swimming or special exercises help relieve these unpleasant sensations.

Thank you for your attention, dear girls, I will be glad if the article was useful to you. Share your comments, tell your friends and, of course, stay with us. Good luck to you, easy birth and healthy little ones.

Contractions are involuntary contractions of the uterus that occur with a certain frequency and duration. Their main purpose is to expel the fetus from the uterine cavity. The question of what symptoms there are during contractions worries the expectant mother during pregnancy. There are no universal ways to determine the onset of contractions, since each woman is individual. Much depends on the duration of the pregnancy, the position of the baby in the womb and the level of female hormones in the body. However, rest assured, when they begin, you will not be able to confuse them with anything else and will definitely understand that “that day and hour” has come.

The main task of a woman during the entire period of pregnancy remains the need to remain calm and not be afraid of the sensations that arise, and at every opportunity to ask questions to her leading doctor - a gynecologist.

For contractions, like other manifestations of pregnancy, you need to be prepared psychologically and not be afraid of them, since they can provoke more severe painful sensations, which are more difficult to get rid of. The first harbingers of approaching labor are training contractions of the uterus.

The first symptoms of contractions may begin to bother a woman from the twentieth week, however, these are not yet labor pains, but false, training contractions. These contractions are named after Braxton Hicks and have the same symptoms as labor but are rare and irregular. The uterus is a muscle, which means it needs training to prepare for the process of labor. This is the purpose of this phenomenon. False contractions differ from real contractions in less pain, and often a complete absence of pain. In order to relieve tension in the uterus during false contractions, sometimes it is enough to take a warm shower, drink clean water, sit in a comfortable position and relax.

Symptoms of contractions before childbirth

Contractions during pregnancy are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• aching pain begins in the lumbar region, spreading to the abdomen and pelvis;
• discomfort reminiscent of menstruation;
• unpleasant sensations similar to those of diarrhea;
• sensation of hardening of the uterus.

How to survive contractions

The ideal option would be the presence of your husband or another person you trust. With its help, it will be easier for you to survive the fight. He will be able to massage your lower back and lower abdomen, and they will also let you into the shower, the warm water of which makes the contraction less painful.

During contractions, it is important to take the right position, in which it will be easier for you to tolerate uterine contractions. Some pregnant women find that gentle rocking on a ball helps.

Get on all fours and you will feel that the contraction is not as strong. Do not lie on your back during a contraction, it is better to walk a little, you can even dance or sway from side to side.

Don't think that you will be judged. During this period, you and your partner must do everything to endure the period of contractions and easily enter the period of pushing.

How to breathe during contractions:

Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth (as if you were blowing out a candle);

Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth;

Two inhales through the nose and out through the mouth.

Each expectant mother experiences contractions differently. For some, swinging on a ball helps, for others, massage helps. Everything here is purely individual. But in any case, you yourself will have to choose the position in which you are most comfortable.

Pregnancy is an important and responsible stage in a woman’s life, because it is full of new sensations, fears, events and worries. This process is especially exciting for those who are pregnant for the first time, because everything that happens is unfamiliar and new to them. Especially often, expectant mothers worry about how to determine that contractions are starting, what sensations do you experience? There are some signs by which you can understand that the birth process will begin soon.

How do you know when contractions are starting? What sensations await a woman?

The expectant mother will have to carry a child under her heart for nine whole months, but as soon as she learns about her delicate situation, a lot of questions arise in her head: “How does the birth process occur? How do contractions manifest themselves? What sensations accompany them? What to do if labor begins activity?" It happens that a woman is completely unprepared for childbirth. To prevent this from happening, you need to prepare for this event in advance and learn more about it. For example, symptoms such as increased urge to go to the toilet, prolapse of the abdomen, uterine contractions, variability in appetite and mood, and the release of a mucus plug may indicate that labor is about to begin.

Contractions are the main harbingers of labor

A distinctive feature is contractions during pregnancy; these sensations cannot be confused with anything else. With their onset, as a rule, there is a release of contractions - this is a contraction of the muscles of the uterus, while a gradual opening of the uterine pharynx occurs, which contributes to the advancement of the child along the mother’s birth canal. A nagging pain appears in the lower abdomen, it is similar to painful sensations during menstruation. You can also feel how the fetus is pressing on and at the same time you can feel a tingling sensation in this area. It should be noted that the sensations during contractions are individual for each woman: some experience pain mainly in the lumbar region, for some it grows in the uterus itself, and others compare it with the pain that accompanies menstruation.

Contractions: what sensations are possible and what to do if they start

It has been noticed that the more a pregnant woman fears the onset of labor, the more painful her contractions are. Therefore, the expectant mother can be recommended to prepare for labor, study literature on the topic in advance, learn to breathe and relax correctly. In addition, today there are many special courses that prepare women for an important process in their lives - the birth of a baby, and tell how a woman in labor feels during this process. So, what to do if contractions begin, and how to facilitate this process?

• As soon as painful sensations appear, foreshadowing labor, it is better not to lie down, but to move actively, this will help the cervix to open faster, which means the duration of labor itself will be reduced.
• You must try to find a body position in which it will be easiest for you to endure contractions, and the position can be anything, even if you want to get on all fours or step from foot to foot. This is quite normal and there is nothing to be ashamed of in such a situation.
• Between contractions you should try to relax as much as possible.
• Massage of the spine in the sacral region is very helpful; it has a good effect both at the very beginning of contractions and throughout the expulsion forces.
• Don’t forget about proper breathing; the medical staff who will be nearby will tell you how to do this.
• And finally, the most important thing: you need to think about the baby who is about to be born. Calm down, think that soon all the torment will end, and you will meet the baby whose appearance you have been waiting for so long. This is worth the patience.

Home " Childbirth » The first symptoms of contractions. Contractions - symptoms.

What sensations indicate that labor is approaching?

From the grip before childbirth - periodic spasms of the muscles of the uterus, characterized by increasing dynamics and intensity. Understanding the mechanism of this process and its purpose will help you overcome fear and act consciously during childbirth.

In modern obstetric practice, labor begins precisely with the appearance of rhythmic uterine contractions of increasing intensity. It is important to know the difference between true contractions in order to be in the maternity hospital on time.

As obstetricians note, the behavior and mood of the woman in labor has a noticeable influence on the course of labor. The right attitude gives a woman an understanding of the processes occurring in her body. Contractions are indeed one of the most difficult periods in childbirth, but they are the force that contributes to the birth of a child. Therefore, they should be perceived as a natural state.

Training, warning or prenatal contractions

From the fifth month of pregnancy, expectant mothers may feel occasional tension in the abdomen. The uterus contracts for 1-2 minutes and relaxes. If you put your hand on your stomach at this moment, you can feel that it has become hard. Often pregnant women describe this condition as “petrification” of the uterus (stony belly). These are training contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions: they can occur continuously until the end of pregnancy. Their characteristic features are irregularity, short duration, and painlessness.

The nature of their appearance is associated with the process of gradual preparation of the body for childbirth, but the exact reasons for their occurrence have not yet been clarified. In addition, there is an opinion that “training” is provoked by increased physical and emotional activity, stress, fatigue, and they can also be a response of the uterine muscles to fetal movements or sexual intercourse. The frequency is individual - from once every few days to several times an hour. Some women don't feel them at all.

Inconveniences caused by false contractions can be easily eliminated. You need to lie down or change your position. Braxton Hicks contractions do not dilate the cervix and do not cause any harm to the fetus, so they should be perceived only as one of the natural moments of pregnancy.

Approximately from the 38th week of pregnancy, the period of precursors begins. Along with prolapse of the uterine fundus, weight loss, an increase in the amount of discharge and other processes noticeable to the pregnant woman, it is distinguished by the appearance of precursor or false contractions.

Just like training ones, they do not open the cervix of the uterus and do not threaten pregnancy, although the intensity of the sensations is more vivid and may well instill anxiety in first-time women. Premonitory contractions have intervals that do not decrease over time, and the strength of the spasms that compress the uterus does not increase. A warm bath, sleep, or snack can help ease these contractions.

It is impossible to stop real or labor contractions by resting or changing positions. Contractions occur involuntarily, under the influence of complex hormonal processes in the body, and are not subject to any control on the part of the woman in labor. Their frequency and intensity are increasing. In the initial phase of labor, contractions are short, lasting about 20 seconds and repeating every 15-20 minutes. By the time the cervix is ​​completely opened, the interval is reduced to 2-3 minutes, and the duration of contractions increases to 60 seconds.

In order to make sure that real contractions begin, it is worth correctly calculating the interval between them. As a rule, false contractions are chaotic, the interval between the first and second can be 40 minutes, between the second and third – 30 minutes, etc. While during real contractions the interval becomes stable, and the length of contractions increases.

Description and functions of contractions

A contraction is a wave-like movement of the muscles of the uterus in the direction from the fundus to the pharynx. With each spasm, the cervix softens, stretches, becomes less convex, and, thinning, gradually opens. Having reached a dilation of 10-12 cm, it is completely smoothed out, forming a single birth canal with the walls of the vagina.

Visualizing the process of labor pains can help cope with pain and uncontrollable emotions.

In each stage of labor, spastic movements of the organ are aimed at achieving a certain physiological result.

1. In the first period, contractions provide opening.
2. In the second, along with pushing, the function of contractive contractions is to expel the fetus from the uterine cavity and move it along the birth canal.
3. In the early postpartum period, pulsation of the uterine muscles promotes the separation of the placenta and prevents bleeding.
4. In the late postpartum period, spasms of the uterine muscles return the organ to its previous size.

Afterwards, pushing occurs - active contraction of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm (duration 10-15 sec.). Occurring reflexively, pushing helps move the baby along the birth canal.

Phases and duration of contractions before childbirth

There are several types: latent, active and deceleration phase. Each of them differs in the duration of the period, intervals and the contractions themselves.

The given parameters can be considered averaged and applicable to the normal course of labor. The actual time of contractions greatly depends on whether the woman is giving birth for the first time or is having a repeat birth, her physical and psychological readiness, the anatomical characteristics of the body and other factors.

Contractions before the first and subsequent births

However, a common factor that influences the duration of contractions is the experience of previous births. This refers to a kind of “memory” of the body that determines differences during certain processes. During the second and subsequent births, the birth canal opens on average 4 hours faster than during the first. This occurs because in women giving birth to their second or third child, the internal and external os open at the same time. During the first birth, dilation occurs sequentially - from the inside to the outside, which increases the time of contractions.

The nature of contractions before repeated birth may also differ: women in labor note their intensity and more active dynamics.

The factor that smoothes out the differences between the first and subsequent births is the time period separating them. The likelihood of prolonged dilatation is higher if more than 8-10 years have passed since the birth of the first child.

In articles devoted to the topics of motherhood and pregnancy, there is information that contractions before the second birth often occur not before, but after the waters have broken, and this happens not at 40, but at 38 weeks. Such options are not excluded, but there is no scientifically confirmed data indicating a direct connection between the serial number of births and the nature of their onset.

It is necessary to understand that the described scenarios are only options, and in no case an axiom. Each birth is very individual, and its course is a multifactorial process.

Feelings during contractions

In order to determine the onset of contractions, it is worth paying attention to the nature of the pain: before childbirth they are similar to menstrual pain. Pulls the lower abdomen and lower back. You may feel pressure, a feeling of fullness, heaviness. Here it is more appropriate to talk about discomfort rather than pain. Pain occurs later, as contractions intensify. It is caused by tension in the uterine ligaments and dilatation of the cervix.

The localization of sensations is quite subjective: in some women in labor the spasm has a girdling nature, its spread can be clearly associated with a wave that rolls from the bottom of the uterus or from one of the sides and covers the entire abdomen, in others the pain originates in the lumbar region, in others - directly in the uterus .

However, in the vast majority of cases, women experience the peak of spasm as a contraction, a strong contraction, or “grasping,” as follows from the very name of the contraction.

Is it possible to miss contractions?

Not all women in labor experience tension in the uterine muscles that causes unbearable pain. How a woman tolerates it depends on the threshold of sensitivity, emotional maturity and special preparation for childbirth. Some people endure the contractions, but for others they are too painful to hold back a scream. But it’s impossible not to feel contractions. If they are not there, then there is no labor activity, which is an essential condition for physiological childbirth.

Some uncertainty in the expectations of expectant mothers can be introduced by the stories of women who have already given birth, in whom labor began not with contractions, but with the breaking of water. You need to understand that this scenario in obstetrics is considered a deviation. Normally, at the peak of one of the contractions, intrauterine pressure stretches and ruptures the membrane of the amniotic sac, and amniotic fluid is poured out.

Spontaneous release of water is called premature. This situation requires immediate medical intervention; waiting for contractions at home is unacceptable.

Mechanism of action at the onset of contractions

It is important to understand what to do at home if contractions begin and labor is approaching. A few recommendations:

• The first thing is not to panic. Lack of composure and unconstructive emotions interfere with concentration and lead to unreasonable actions.
• Having felt the onset of contractions, you need to determine their type: are they really contractions before childbirth or harbingers. To do this, you need to use a stopwatch or special applications on your mobile phone to note the time and calculate the duration of intervals and contractions. If the frequency and duration do not increase, then there is nothing to worry about. The warning signs usually subside completely within two hours.
• If the spasms have become regular, the pause time between them is clearly defined, you can start getting ready for the maternity hospital. You should plan your departure so that you can be examined by a doctor by the time the frequency of contractions reaches once every 10 minutes. In the normal course of labor, this will happen approximately no earlier than after 7 hours. Therefore, if contractions begin at night, you should try to get at least a little rest.
• You can take a shower and do hygiene procedures.
• For repeated births, you should go to the hospital immediately after contractions become regular, without waiting for their interval to shorten.

The first pregnancy and childbirth are new sensations for the mother and her body. A large number of experiences of first-time mothers concern how to distinguish the so-called “training” from real ones and not confuse such conditions? Go to the maternity hospital on time or how to recognize contractions during the first birth: tips, recommendations, description of pain.

Why does labor begin at a specific time, what influences this, and how does the body itself determine its readiness to give birth? There are real discussions around such a seemingly simple and elementary issue, because it is known what causes contractions before childbirth, and how much of this hormone should be present. But one thing is not known: how does the uterus “determine” the very moment of the onset of labor, what gives the signal?

Some scientists believe that the baby himself gives the signal for the onset of labor, and the uterus only carries out the “order.” Others put forward the theory that the onset of labor is inherent in every woman, and is established according to the principle of a “biological clock”, the countdown of which begins from the moment of conception. Be that as it may, women in labor are no longer concerned with the question of what causes contractions, but how to determine them, how to understand that it is really time to give birth?

During the first, second and subsequent births, they are radically different. In many ways, the degree of pain is determined by the height of the pain threshold, heredity, pregnancy (with or without complications), and concomitant chronic diseases of the mother. For example, it is generally accepted that the second birth is much easier than the first. But this is only partly true, because if the second pregnancy occurs after the first in 8-10 years, then the uterus “learns” to give birth again, and therefore the pain is the same in this case for a primiparous woman and for a multiparous woman.

Prenatal activity also occurs differently in primiparous and multiparous women. However, in both the first and second cases, preparation for childbirth occurs throughout the entire gestation period. Such processes are especially noticeable in the third semester of pregnancy (after the 35th week): the cervix “erases”, becomes more elastic, the baby’s weight presses on the birth canal, and the mucous plug is pushed out. All this is a preparatory period, which will later help the baby overcome the birth canal as quickly as possible and without injury.

How to determine and understand that contractions have begun: the main signs of the onset of labor

Many pregnant women are concerned about the very feeling of pain, what it feels like during contractions, and how to determine that this is “it” - the beginning? Many obstetricians say that a woman intuitively understands the onset of labor, but one can argue with this. The onset of labor, in many ways, is no different from pain during the menstrual and premenstrual cycle. By and large, there is no pain as such, just discomfort in the lower abdomen, lack of sleep (if it is at night) and increased appetite.

All these processes begin long before the active phase of labor. For convenience, we divide labor into three periods, each of which we describe separately:

1. Preparation before childbirth, hidden symptoms. Such preparation can be considered the day before childbirth. On this day, a woman does not understand or feel any pain, heaviness, etc. Some women may not even feel their stomach drop. The only signs:

• disturbed sleep, there is virtually no sleep, the woman sleeps lightly, wakes up from every rustle, cannot “find” a place for herself, while there is no fatigue in the morning;
• increased appetite. During this period, you really want to eat sweets, carbohydrates, cookies, candies;
• the plug may be observed to come off if it has not yet come off by this point;
• after each meal or water, the woman empties;
• increased thirst.

1. Prenatal activities, visible symptoms. This period occurs approximately 8-12 hours before the onset of active labor. Characteristic features can be considered:

• aching constant pain in the lower back;
• nagging, tolerable pain in the lower abdomen (right above the pubis);
• breast engorgement, increased nipple sensitivity;
• I constantly want to have a bowel movement, but when I go to the bathroom there is no discharge;
• There are no contractions as such, but the stomach begins to hurt more and more noticeably every hour. This pain can be described as severe pain during the menstrual cycle, cystitis.

1. Active labor. As a rule, before this period begins, the woman already understands what is happening and prepares for the maternity ward. However, there is no need to panic, since for primiparas this process does not take less than 8-12 hours, this is the most optimistic forecast. As a rule, labor for the first time lasts for 24 or even 48 hours. During this period, it is recommended that a pregnant woman, if possible, sleep for several hours, rest and eat protein foods so that she has strength for childbirth. At this time, the child leads his usual lifestyle, nothing bothers him.

What causes contractions to start?

How does the body understand that it needs to give birth? Ideally, if a woman did not have stress during pregnancy, she ate properly, led an active lifestyle, did not lie on the couch all day and ate healthy foods, then the onset of labor is determined by the “ripe” fetus, that is, the baby.

As soon as the baby is ready to be born into this world and live independently outside the mother’s body, the uterus accumulates the necessary amount of hormone and pushes out the baby to begin a new stage in life. Childbirth is a colossal effort of the whole body, which has been “training” for all 9 months. Hormones play a primary role here.

Thus, prolactin, which maintained pregnancy, decreases in concentration at the time of birth. At the same time, there is an increase in hormones such as oxytocin, endorphin and estrogen. It is under the influence of these hormones that the onset of labor occurs, and their quantity determines the intensity and speed of the labor process.

False contractions

Training (“test”) contractions before childbirth help the body of the uterus behave correctly during the birth itself. Therefore, the so-called Higgins contractions are a mandatory and very useful training for the entire body of a pregnant woman, regardless of the number of previous births. Let's find out and determine the precursors of a certain state - training contractions.

How to accurately determine before childbirth, dividing symptoms into training and real contractions? The internal sensations of a pregnant woman who is trying to distinguish training contractions from real ones can be described as follows:

• cramping painful sensations (or not noticeable for some pregnant women), which disappear before childbirth, starting from the sixth month;
• there is no frequency of contractions before childbirth, for example, every three hours, every hour, etc., these are short-term, mild pains;
• the stomach rises, even the shape of the stomach may change, it resembles a round, even ball, then everything returns to the opposite position;
• with false manifestations, pain in the back area is not felt, this is very important, the pregnant woman only feels compression of the abdomen, a slight unpleasant condition.

How to recognize and distinguish before childbirth for those who have never given birth? It's quite simple if you monitor your condition. The main thing is the absence of acute severe pain of discharge and back pain. Everything else is the norm, which differs depending on the characteristics of the body. Some women who carried and gave birth to three babies never felt the manifestations of Higgins contractions, which can also be observed during sleep.

When you shouldn’t wait and think about how to determine the onset of contractions

In obstetrics and gynecology there is such a thing as an “emergency” condition that requires urgent hospitalization. Such moments are especially relevant when the pregnancy is pathological, and the woman in labor is at risk:

• hypertensive;
• diabetic;
• multiple pregnancy;
• overweight child;
• anomalies in the development of internal organs (in the child or mother);
• maternal cancer;
• abnormally narrow pelvis;
• below normal weight (emaciation);
• past cases of child death during childbirth.

All such women must understand that the slightest risk can result in irreparable consequences. Therefore, if you have the following symptoms, it is important to immediately consult a doctor:

• increased body temperature;
• sharp throbbing pain in the abdomen, chest, back;
• discharge of any nature, especially yellow, green, red, brown or scarlet;
• if there is a frequency of contractions ahead of schedule (up to 36 weeks);
• the mother does not hear the baby’s movement for some period and at the same time her stomach ache.

All these conditions do not require additional testing and symptomatic manifestation. The main task of the woman in labor and her family is to deliver the pregnant woman to the maternity or gynecological department as quickly as possible.