False contractions during pregnancy - how many days before delivery. How to distinguish false contractions from real ones

When the time for childbirth approaches, pregnant women begin to expect the first signs that will indicate the onset of labor. Primiparous women have no idea what they should feel, but those who have already given birth once can understand what the body is signaling to them if there are pains in the lower abdomen, reminiscent of contractions. In this article we will talk about what false contractions are and how to distinguish them from real ones.

Fake labor has a scientific definition. They are called the Braxton Hicks training contractions (after the doctor who first explained this phenomenon with pregnant women). They represent contractions of the uterus with the same force as in childbirth, however, they do not lead to delivery, but only train the uterus before childbirth. Not all women are faced with training contractions, their occurrence will directly depend on the individual characteristics of the pregnant woman's body and the conditions in which she lives (physical activity of the pregnant woman, mobility in the womb, excitement, overexcitation, both emotional and sexual).

False contractions during pregnancy: symptoms

How to understand that your training contractions have begun. In fact, to understand this, you just need to remember a few factors that determine this phenomenon:

1. Severe pain arises in any part of the abdomen - the woman feels as if something is strongly compressing her uterus.
2. Less than 6 such sensations occur within an hour.
3. They do not have a certain rhythm and cyclicality, contractions occur suddenly.
4. Stop by themselves.

Typically, all of the above symptoms do not occur until the third trimester. Usually, the first false contractions occur at 36 weeks of gestation.

What to do if false contractions have begun?

When you feel the symptoms of false contractions at 38 weeks gestation, it's time to learn how to breathe properly. This skill facilitates the condition of women in childbirth and helps the child to be born faster with minimal consequences for him. There are two good exercises for moms-to-be:

• When the contraction begins, begin to slowly inhale air, and when it subsides, exhale quickly and deeply (imagine that you are blowing out a candle).
• During the fight, breathe often and often (as dogs do), but do not overdo it, so as not to lose consciousness, since during such breathing the required amount of oxygen does not enter the body.

The occurrence of false contractions at 39 weeks of gestation is already very alarming for a woman, because the birth of a child at this time is a normal process. However, most often, grasping pains in the lower abdomen this week of pregnancy are in no way associated with true harbingers of childbirth. If you feel something like this, then try to distract yourself in this way:

• Take a walk down the street - go to the park, look at the water to calm your nerves and relax as much as possible.
• Take a warm shower or, as a last resort, lie in warm water - this is very relaxing and relieves pain.
• If false contractions have arisen when you have been sitting or standing for a long time, then just try to change your position - lie down or walk.
• Drink tea, juice, or just a glass of water.
• Listen to your favorite music or watch a good TV show.

False contractions at 40 weeks of gestation can also occur, but they should already be treated more carefully, since they may be true. Despite the claims of doctors that real contractions are easy to distinguish from false ones due to very severe pain, you should know that in addition to it, you will experience other symptoms:

• You may lose water - amniotic fluid will pour out of the perineum, in which your child lived and developed for 9 months.
• Within an hour, you have contractions that last 5 minutes.
• The child is no longer moving so actively - no more than 10 times in 2 hours.
• You may experience minor or severe bleeding, which signals the onset of placental abruption.

To make it easier to survive contractions and the whole process of a long and painful childbirth, follow our recommendations:

1. Try to relax as much as possible. In a moment of severe pain, do not bite your lips, do not curl your face, you need to control yourself and think about something distracted. It's time to dream.
2. Breathe very deeply. This will not only ease your suffering, but it will also greatly help your baby. Indeed, in the process of his movement along the birth canal. The baby is sorely lacking in oxygen.
3. Do not scream, because this will only aggravate the pain, you will get tired faster, and strength will be needed during the attempts, when the child will already be born.
4. Move more actively - do not lie down. The movement stimulates rapid dilatation of the cervix. You can dance, swing on the fitball, walk, squat - whatever.
5. Ask the person attending your birth to massage your lower back. Just be careful in this process, because this way you can get a severe burn, which will only increase the pain.
6. Listen carefully to the midwife who will help you give birth. You should be aware that it will depend on you, how long the birth will take, and how hard it will be for your baby to be born.

Your task is also to learn to understand your body during pregnancy, to hear its prompts. The ability to feel your body can be learned in yoga classes. Many women undergo preparatory courses there before giving birth. If you believe their feedback, then in childbirth, the knowledge gained helped them a lot - they took the right postures so that the pain was not so strong.

Video “Labor pains. How to distinguish false from real? "

This video provides detailed instructions on how you can immediately distinguish false contractions from real ones. In addition, it clearly demonstrates what and how to do to ease your condition during labor.

Most of all, pregnant women are afraid of contractions, and especially those who have not given birth before and only know about contractions from the stories of "experienced". And what do women in labor usually tell about this phenomenon (or, most likely, what all women in position willingly and indisputably believe in)? Firstly, contractions are the beginning of labor - and this is a correct statement (although not completely, as there are so-called "false contractions"). Secondly, almost all women in labor remember the incredible pain during labor (although in fact few people remember this pain, since it is forgotten and it is impossible to compare it with anything) and, most importantly, all pregnant women in the last trimester of pregnancy ( or even much earlier!) expect painful contractions. And try to tell them that your contractions were almost painless and that in fact not everything is so scary - they will never believe it. Moreover, already at the beginning of pregnancy, they will agree with the doctor about labor pain relief.

Fortunately, there are few such pessimists, and most expectant mothers still tune in to "tolerable" pains, although they fear contractions before giving birth. Ignorance is always frightening, and, as a rule, contractions come certainly not of our will (unless, of course, we resort to the stimulation of labor). So how do these contractions start? How not to let them out of sight? And what actually lies in this "terrible word"?

How does it feel when contractions begin

The contractions are called contractions because they cause a feeling of grasping, sharp contraction. When it comes to the upcoming birth, cramping sensations naturally occur in the area of \u200b\u200bthe hip joints.

In fact, contractions are a very complex "biochemical process", since they involve the baby's pituitary gland and the placenta itself, which begin to produce special substances, which in turn contribute to the opening of the cervix, which is accompanied by contractions.

During contractions, the uterus contracts, its muscle fibers thicken and shorten, which contributes to the opening of the cervical pharynx to the extent that the baby's head can squeeze through it. Full disclosure is recorded when the cervix is \u200b\u200bopen by 12 cm, while the intrauterine pressure also increases, as a result of the rupture of the fetal bladder - and the amniotic fluid leaves.

How to know when contractions have begun

When to expect a pregnant woman to have labor? We have all heard about the threats of premature birth, which also begins with contractions, but along with these signs of an upcoming birth, a woman also discovers other symptoms. In any case, cramping pains require special attention from the expectant mother. Practice shows that the contractions themselves and the sensations with them are different for all women. Even false contractions, which doctors love to talk about, are not noticed by all pregnant women. Moreover, the expectant mother can learn about real labor pains only when she has a desire to push. We also heard about rapid childbirth, when the contractions cannot be confused with anything.

Ideally, everything happens like this: starting from the 20th week of pregnancy, the body begins to "rehearse" the upcoming birth, contracting the muscles of the uterus. The woman feels that something is wrong with the uterus: she stiffens and relaxes at random intervals. So, a woman can "grab" for a whole minute, then the pain subsides and disappears without a trace, and soon resumes, but the regularity of such contractions cannot be noted. We are talking about false contractions - the harbingers of the upcoming birth. But not all women are faced with this condition, and their birth begins on time with real contractions.

How do you recognize them? Again, ideally, the first contractions pass imperceptibly for a woman, except that there is very little discomfort in the abdomen or lower back, well, and a strong premonition that childbirth is about to take place (it is difficult for a woman's intuition to find an explanation, but almost every woman subconsciously knows : it's time!).

Gradually, the second, active, phase of contractions begins, when they proceed with an exact interval, which is shortening all the time: cramping attacks are repeated more and more often, continue for longer, not only the frequency and duration, but also the degree of painful sensations increase. So it comes to the point when one contraction lasts more than two minutes, and the second comes after 60 seconds. At this time, you should already be in the hospital, because the birth itself will begin in 30-40 minutes. The last stage of contractions is the most painful, since the woman has an irresistible feeling of going down in a big way. But if the uterus is not open, she will have to restrain her attempts so as not to harm herself and the baby.

What to do if contractions have begun

With the beginning of the first contractions, you should stop any activities and try to rest. Many are helped by walking around the room, someone sits down, gets up. As soon as the contractions intensify and begin to repeat more often, immediately go to the hospital. Those who are particularly suspicious can go to the hospital earlier.

Don't worry about anything: the doctor in attendance knows exactly what to do and when to do it. If it is still too early to push, he will certainly notify you of this.

The main thing now is to relax as much as possible. As paradoxical as it may sound, try to let go of all worries and fears. Panic will not lead to anything good, and, in fact, there is nothing to be afraid of. The labor you have been waiting for begins. There are only a few hours left before the meeting with the baby. Whether you will be able to help him overcome the difficult path into this world now depends on you. Breathe deeply and evenly as you try to relax and release the pain. Excessive tension in the muscles will increase pain, and therefore it is important to relax them as much as possible now.

Listen to your body, remember the breathing techniques in labor - apply them as different periods of the labor process begin. To restore strength and not harm the child between attempts will help superficial "dog" breathing. At the doctor's command, slowly draw in a full chest of air so that you can work productively the next minute.

Think about the baby, you just have to calm down, tune in to a productive birth and listen carefully to the instructions of the medical staff.

Is pain during contractions terrible?

So we scared you ourselves, describing the "most painful" last stage of the contractions. I myself was waiting for him and was more afraid than the birth itself, but I did not manage to understand why the women in labor sob and scream, because it turned out that the pain is bearable, moreover, even pleasant. You may not believe it, but the pain during contractions was quenched by the thought that this is how a little man is born, my blood.

It turns out that my feelings were scientifically confirmed. In fact, labor pain is not hidden in the uterus, since its contraction is a natural process, which means that pain receptors (and there are very few of them in the muscles of the uterus) do not send a signal to the brain about any violations (the meaning of any pain is just consists in the "notification" of the body about "problems"). But the real feeling of pain arises in the muscles that surround the uterus, and in order to overcome it, it is only important to learn how to control their relaxation, since muscle tension interferes with the normal physiological course of labor. Moreover, fear, anxiety and anxiety exacerbate muscle tension. Hence the simple conclusion: a pregnant woman who is afraid of childbirth experiences great pain from the very first contractions. But many women do not know at all what labor pain and pain during labor are, so learn to properly tune yourself to the inevitable process - childbirth, namely, be able to relax; do not waste energy in vain, as you will need them during the period of expulsion of the fetus; talk to your baby; do not try to overcome the pain, but just take it for granted.

I think if you deliberately prepare for the childbirth process, then you will not need information about epidurals, nitrous oxide with oxygen, promedol and other ways to anesthetize contractions and childbirth.

If the contractions don't come

As always, there is a reverse side of the coin: a woman is waiting for a contraction, waiting, but they never come, even after the expiration of the pregnancy. We have to stimulate them. Artificial contractions will be called to you if they do not appear at 41-42 weeks of pregnancy, and the fetus is found to have any violations that threaten its life. The most common ways to stimulate labor are: the introduction of Cerviprost (a hormonal drug that softens the cervix) into the cervical canal; intravenous administration of a hormonal drug (also contributes to the contraction of the uterus); opening the amniotic fluid (after which contractions begin).

Do not rush to "try" the worst on yourself. Believe that everything will happen naturally, without pain, without complications, and most importantly, without fear. A woman ready for childbirth will immediately understand: here they are, contractions! A little more - and the most desirable treasure will be born!

Especially for Tanya Kivezhdiy

Expectant mothers are looking forward to meeting the baby. Many of them begin to listen to their bodies long before the precursors of childbirth appear. This is due to the fact that primiparas cannot fully imagine what feelings the contractions cause before childbirth, and how they feel, therefore they are often confused with training. In the last trimester, the expectant mother needs to know how to recognize contractions when pain occurs.

Contractions and their functions during childbirth

After 36 weeks, expectant mothers begin to study in detail articles about childbirth. At this time, the realization comes that the time of childbirth is approaching. Primiparas who attended courses for young parents at children's polyclinics have a clear idea of \u200b\u200bthe signs of the onset of labor.

What are contractions during pregnancy? This term should be understood as contractions of the muscles of the uterus, which contribute to the correct and rapid opening of the cervix. As a result, it becomes possible for the fetus to move along the birth canal. The woman in labor feels cramping spasms not only just before the very birth of the baby, but also in the last period of labor, when the placenta is expelled.

True contractions are involuntary repetitive contractions of the muscles of the uterus. The main function of contractions is to prepare the birth canal for the advancement of the infant. If labor pains have just begun, then the pain will be barely noticeable. Then it grows and reaches its peak after the outpouring of waters. Small intervals between strong unbearable contractions do not leave the strength of the pregnant woman. Women in labor at this stage often ask doctors to anesthetize them at least for a while. Rest is necessary for the expectant mother so that she has the strength to push and expel the fetus.

The obstetricians usually inform about how contractions pass and manifest in pregnant women. In some cases, they advise contacting perinatal centers for training under a special program. At the same time, the expectant mother will form the correct attitude towards childbirth and will come to the realization that contractions and attempts are a natural process. It is thanks to this that the whole organism is seriously prepared for the unhindered passage of the baby through the birth canal. Adequate awareness of everything that happens in the "X" hour is the key to successful childbirth.

Classification of contractions:

1. true;
2. false (Braxton Hicks contractions, or training);
3. tilted.

How to identify the first contractions during childbirth and not confuse them with other types? Prenatal contractions (or training) differ from the real ones in that they are irregular and do not contribute to the opening of the cervix (for more details, see the article:

Phases and duration of labor pains, intervals between them

During the appointment, obstetricians tell women in labor how to determine the onset of labor, what symptoms appear, where the pain is localized. To count them, it is not necessary to have a pen with a notebook next to you, a smartphone is enough. There are many free applications that help you calculate the duration of contractions, their frequency. Thanks to automatic calculation, the smartphone will accurately tell you whether to call a doctor. If the rest between contractions is 15 minutes, then you should not call an ambulance yet.

How long does it take to wait for the contractions to intensify during natural childbirth, to increase their duration? If the intervals between contractions are reduced and become equal to 7 minutes or less, then the very moment has come when the primiparous should go to the maternity hospital. If the interval between contractions is reduced to 5 minutes, it is recommended to hurry up to avoid the onset of rapid labor.

The appearance of the first contractions indicates a contraction of the muscle fibers of the walls of the uterus. It is quite difficult to recognize them. The body of a woman in labor begins to actively prepare the body for an early birth. The initial phase of labor begins.

Contractions of the uterus become rhythmic. Time starts to decrease. The frequency of spasms increases, the sensations of pain increase. With an interval of 5 minutes between contractions, discomfort continues to increase not only in the lower back, but also in the lower abdomen (abdominal cavity). In the latent stage, the opening occurs at a speed of about 0.5 cm per hour.

According to the statistics of obstetricians and gynecologists, the period in labor between contractions is 10-15 minutes. The faster the duration increases (20 seconds, 30, 40, 1 minute), the more pain the woman in labor experiences. Every 3 minutes, the sensations will only intensify. With a break of 2 minutes, a positive attitude will help the expectant mother to cope.

In subsequent phases, the duration of labor contractions during childbirth will increase in time, and the interval will decrease. The frequency of contractions increases. Obstetricians advise calling an ambulance for a woman in labor when the intervals between contractions are 5 or 7 minutes. Each new period of contractions will gradually increase, so doctors recommend breathing exercises to relieve pain.

During the active period, the cervix becomes smoothed, its opening will go faster than during the latent period (see also:). The approximate opening speed is 1 cm per hour. Further, labor begins to weaken, and the body of the expectant mother moves on to the second stage of childbirth - the expulsion of the fetus.

The total duration of contractions in primiparous women is from 9 to 15 hours. These numbers are halved for multiparous women.

What are the sensations of a pregnant woman during labor pains, are they painless?

Women in labor experience different sensations from the first contractions. Some have a low pain threshold, and some have a high. Accordingly, before giving birth, it is impossible to know how strong the pain will be during labor. There is an opinion that in the process of a spasm, soreness directly depends on the woman's ability to relax. Tense muscles increase pain. To reduce it, it is recommended to attend yoga classes, where they teach how to cope with stress by relaxing the body.

The sensations a woman receives during childbirth cannot be confused with anything. First, primiparous experiences discomfort in the lumbar spine, then the pain covers the abdominal wall and groin area. If you ask about pain in women who have already given birth, they will most often compare it with the sensations at the onset of menstruation. Someone will describe it as a lingering muscle spasm. Someone is "covered with a wave" in the area of \u200b\u200bthe upper thighs and lower back.

How to relieve pain during labor pains?

There are several dozen methods for pain relief. However, the safest and fastest way is anesthesia. A special anesthetic is introduced into the body of a woman in labor, which immediately begins to act. Obstetricians-gynecologists in their practice often use antispasmodics to help relax the body.

When choosing a method for complete pain relief or temporary relief, do not forget about spiritual practices. Proper breathing can not only calm, but also relax muscles. You need to know how to breathe correctly during contractions, yoga will help with this. Such lessons have been especially popular among primiparas in the last decade.

A properly selected posture of a woman in labor and a massage of the lumbar spine, which can be performed by a nurse or obstetrician, can reduce pain from regular contractions. What position will be comfortable? Here we should remember the pose of the frog. To do this, you need to sit down and spread your knees to the sides, while leaning on a chair. To reduce pain during the first birth, a standing on all fours or lying on a gymnastic ball help.

With prolonged true contraction during childbirth, you should properly inhale and exhale air. You need to breathe deeply and calmly (4 seconds - inhale, 6 - exhale). If there are signs of severe pain, slow breathing with fast breathing should be alternated. This helps to remain conscious and not faint when the frequency of contractions begins to increase.

If one of the ways helped the woman in childbirth, then she should try to sleep. This is necessary for the accumulation of strength.

What if the water has receded, but there are no contractions, or they are weak?

If the water has receded, and the contractions are absent or very weak, then first of all you should calm down and call an ambulance. Before the arrival of doctors, it is necessary to track the activity of the baby, as well as remember the color of the waters and their approximate amount. Clear or light waters are considered the norm. It will be useful to measure body temperature - it should not rise above normal.

After spontaneous discharge of amniotic fluid, you should not worry about the risk of umbilical cord prolapse (see also:). It is minimal and is very rare in practice. When pouring water, it is forbidden to have sex, visit public toilets, violate the hygiene of the genitals.

In many foreign countries, after the waters leave, it is allowed to wait for the start of contractions up to 72 hours (more in the article:). In Russian maternity hospitals, this time has been reduced to 6 hours. If, after this period, labor pains continue to be absent or present, but weak, labor is stimulated. In the absence of the proper effect from the injected drugs, a cesarean section is performed.

Differences between real and false contractions

All primiparas are trying to understand how contractions begin in pregnant women, how to determine their onset correctly, how not to confuse them with abdominal pain. It is important to record the frequency and duration of the actual first contractions. Pregnant women often come to the maternity hospital with training contractions, passing them off as true. However, an experienced obstetrician-gynecologist, after examining on a gynecological chair, can immediately determine whether labor has begun or not. Information for determining the signs of the onset of true contractions during childbirth is given in the table.

Sign	True	False
Time of appearance of the first contractions	From week 37	From week 20
Presence when changing body position	No	Yes
Effect on cervical dilatation	Yes	No
Regularity	Yes, you can track the frequency of contractions	No, they don't last long
Duration	Increases	Does not change
Duration of intervals	Increases	Does not change
Soreness	Reminds the first day of menstruation, the lower abdomen hurts	Painless, slight discomfort in the lower abdomen
Increasing dynamics and intensity of spasms	Yes	No

Attempts and their features

What is pushing? They appear in the second stage of labor. Attempts are reflex contractions of the diaphragm, uterine and abdominal muscles. Thanks to this, the baby is pushed out of the mother's body. Attempts are involuntary - they arise on their own when the body is ready for the birth of a child. The attempts last 10 to 30 minutes.

It is quite difficult to describe all the feelings experienced when pushing. Many primiparas compare pushing to having a bowel movement. First, there is a sensation as if the bowel is emptying, and then - an almost uncontrollable urge to push.

To relieve severe pain during prolonged pushing during natural childbirth, breathing exercises must be performed correctly. The most common is the following: at the beginning of the push, inhale, then push as you exhale. During one push, you can do this exercise several times, depending on the capabilities of the woman in labor. The gap is small, so you should collect all your strength to complete the process.

So pregnancy has come to an end, and childbirth, no matter how much future mothers want, is inevitable. But what scares women the most about the birth process? Of course, labor pains. The fears are aggravated by all sorts of stories of friends, mothers, grandmothers and others, how they had a hard time during the period of labor.

In this case, we can offer only one thing: not to listen to anyone, each person's body is arranged in its own way, which means that everything happens in different ways. Someone easily tolerates pain, while someone becomes ill from a prick of a rose thorn. Knowledge about the labor process, how to reduce pain during labor, and how to breathe correctly at this time will help to get rid of fears of upcoming pain in childbirth.

Childbirth and their periods

Childbirth is a complex physiological process that ends a pregnancy. Depending on the gestational age, childbirth is divided into premature (up to 36 weeks), urgent, that is, at 38 - 41 weeks and late, which occur at the 42nd week. The generic process itself is divided into 3 periods:

• 1 period is called the period of opening of the uterine pharynx or the period of contractions;
• 2 period is the period of expulsion (i.e. birth) of the fetus;
• 3rd period - successive (afterbirth is born in this phase).

The longest period of childbirth is. It is characterized by contractions and pain that accompanies them. The period of exile is mistaken for many women as childbirth. Although it continues normally for 5 to 10 minutes and is accompanied by attempts that occur against the background of contractions and push the fetus out of the uterus. The third period - expulsion (birth) of the placenta, is normally also short and is 5 - 15, maximum 30 minutes. It becomes clear that childbirth is not only the process of giving birth to a baby, but also contractions, at the end of which the amniotic fluid and the birth of the placenta ("baby's place" or placenta) leave.

Contractions: what is it and what is it for

Contractions are called involuntary uterine contractions (carried out by the muscular layer), which occur regularly and are necessary for the expulsion of the fetus from the uterus. Contractions are classified into false and true.

Contractions before childbirth or false expectant mothers begin to feel a few weeks before the onset of labor. For the first time, such uterine contractions occur after 24 weeks. They are characterized by a short duration, only a few seconds (less than a minute), irregularity, the intervals between contractions range from 10-15 minutes to half an hour and last no more than two hours. Arising at the end of the gestation period means the approach of labor. Such uterine contractions are also called training contractions, since they prepare the woman's body, in particular the uterus, for the upcoming work during childbirth.

True contractions mark the beginning of the birth act. It is impossible not to notice and miss them, as most women are afraid, especially those giving birth for the first time. First, the onset of labor is preceded by their numerous precursors, of particular importance is the discharge of the mucous plug (3 to 7 days before delivery). Secondly, the discharge of amniotic fluid is possible. And thirdly, contractions have their own parameters, knowing about which, even a primiparous woman will not doubt the beginning of the labor act.

Contractions are necessary so that the uterine pharynx opens, first the baby's head will pass through it, and then the entire baby. The uterine pharynx is the external and internal os of the cervical canal. Normally, before labor begins, the uterine pharynx is closed (closed) or misses the tip of the finger. To facilitate the fetus's expulsion from the uterine cavity, the uterine pharynx opens up to 10 - 12 cm. Such a dilation is called complete. In addition, in the process of the first stage of labor, due to contractions, not only the opening of the neck occurs, but also the movement of the presenting part of the fetus along the planes of the small pelvis. When the cervix of the uterus opens completely, and the baby's head passes the bony ring of the pelvis and ends up on the pelvic floor (that is, in the vagina), attempts occur, which indicates that the second stage of labor has begun. Attempts and contractions refer to the fruiting forces, it becomes clear that childbirth without contractions is impossible.

Contractions: how to recognize them

As already mentioned, it is impossible to miss a contraction, even if a woman is preparing to become a mother for the first time. But one should not believe the films, where they very often show such a situation: a woman in the last stages of pregnancy, amid full health, suddenly and violently begins labor, and after a couple of hours she becomes a happy mother. Yes, such situations are not excluded, but this applies to rapid childbirth, which lasts no more than 4 hours in primiparous, and in the second birth, 2 or less hours pass from the start of uterine contractions to the birth of the child.

True contractions (normally) begin gradually, gradually increasing, and the gap between them decreases. How to understand that contractions have begun if childbirth is the first? You need to listen to yourself. Feelings can be different. Someone compares uterine contractions with menstrual pains, while someone has pulling pains or stretching in the lumbar region, gradually spreading to the lower abdomen, encircling the woman. True contractions, as they write on many sites on the Internet, do not refer to the harbingers of childbirth, but to the beginning of childbirth. To recognize labor contractions, you should know their characteristics:

• contractions are always regular and renewed at regular intervals;
• the duration of the uterine contractions increases, and the gap between them is shortened;
• pain sensations (if any) gradually increase.

Another sensation that the expectant mother experiences during uterine contractions, especially if she is not worried about pain, is that the uterus is “stony”. It is easy to determine by hand. From the beginning of the contraction, the uterus contracts and becomes firm to the touch, and by the end it gradually relaxes.

How long does the contraction last? When labor has just begun, each uterine contraction lasts 10 - 15 seconds, over time, the contractions lengthen and reach 1 - 1.5 minutes (60 - 90 seconds) by the end of the first period. The breaks between contractions are at first 10 - 15 minutes, then they become shorter and shorter, and during the strenuous period, contractions occur on average after 1.5 - 2 minutes, but possibly in a minute.

Phases of the period of contractions

Due to the fact that the neck opens unevenly, and the fetus moves along the bone ring at different speeds, the period of contractions is divided into three phases:

First (latent phase)

Its beginning coincides with the establishment of regular contractions, and it ends with smoothing of the cervix and its opening up to 3-4 cm. Contractions continue from 20 to 45 seconds, occur every 15 minutes, the phase itself lasts up to 6 hours. This phase is called "latent" due to painlessness or mild pain, and does not require drug pain relief.

Second (active phase)

As soon as the uterine pharynx has opened by 4 cm, the active phase starts. This phase is characterized by intense labor and a fairly rapid opening of the cervix. The active phase lasts 3 - 4 hours, the duration of uterine contractions reaches 60 seconds, and the intervals between them last 2 - 4 minutes. Upon reaching the neck opening of 8 cm and the whole fetal bladder, it should be opened (timely amniotomy).

Third or phase deceleration

It starts with a cervical opening up to 8 cm and ends with a full disclosure. If there are contractions during the first birth, then the third phase lasts 40 minutes - 2 hours. In the case of a second birth, there may be no slowdown phase. Uterine contractions last 1 to 1.5 minutes and are repeated every minute.

Based on the foregoing, it is easy to calculate how long the contractions and childbirth in general last. So, the duration of 1 period and childbirth in general in primiparous is approximately 10 - 12 hours. With repeated births, this distance is reduced to 6 - 8 hours. If the duration of labor exceeds the specified norms, they speak of prolonged labor.

When is it time to go to the hospital

If contractions began before childbirth, when to go to the hospital? As is often the case, especially in primiparous women, they come to the hospital either too early (which is very unnerving for the woman in labor), or late. To avoid this or that situation, we will decide when it is time to call an ambulance.

It is quite easy to understand that contractions have begun, especially in the case of the first birth. Uterine contractions are regular, that is, they are repeated every 10 minutes, and then the interval between contractions slowly but surely begins to decrease to 7, then to 5 minutes, and so on. Since the birth is the first, then when the woman herself establishes regular contractions with an interval of 5 - 7 minutes, it is time to call the ambulance station. If labor is repeated, then the regularity of contractions is usually established almost immediately, and the periods of rest between them decrease rapidly. Therefore, it is necessary to call the doctors immediately in order to avoid haste when entering the hospital, when the disclosure is complete, and it is time for the delivery table. The risk of so-called road births also increases (especially in large cities, where travel is often difficult due to traffic jams).

In addition, it is necessary to call, and immediately, an ambulance team in the following cases:

• discharge of amniotic fluid (often this happens in a dream, a woman wakes up in a wet bed and thinks with horror that she has wet herself);
• suspicion of an outpouring of water (a light, odorless liquid leaks or suspicious liquid discharge has appeared);
• appeared bloody, with clots or without discharge of a dark or scarlet color (placental abruption is not excluded).

The beginning of childbirth, the appearance of regular contractions makes the woman and her family fuss and nervous. Therefore, it is necessary to collect the bag in the maternity hospital in advance, according to the previously compiled list, so that in a hurry and bustle you do not forget something important. Before the arrival of an ambulance, the expectant mother, as well as her relatives, should calm down and tune in to a favorable outcome of an important event (sometimes the ambulance team does not know who to help first: a woman in labor - to accompany her to the car or her excited relatives).

How to relieve labor pain

This is not to say that birth pain is so intolerable that it is easier to die than to survive it. I repeat, if you believe the stories of friends and relatives, it was so hard and bad for all of them at the moments of labor, such was the unbearable pain that they decided to go through it again, giving birth to their second or third child. Smiled? This means that the devil is not so terrible as he is painted. Everything in this life can be experienced, and childbirth is a natural process and laid down by nature. As a reassurance for expectant mothers, I would like to cite another well-known fact: men could not bear the pain that a woman experiences during labor. What does this mean? This only confirms that women are much stronger and more enduring than men, therefore, nature provided women, and not men, with the opportunity to bear and give birth to a child.

Undoubtedly, pain sensations to one degree or another will accompany contractions, but there is not always a need for drug pain relief, and does your future baby need it? There are a number of recommendations, observing which pain during contractions, if not disappear, then at least decrease.

How to relieve pain during childbirth:

Psychoprophylactic training

This preparation begins in the second half of pregnancy. In the classroom at the "school of mothers" doctors and midwives cover in detail the entire process of childbirth, from A to Z, answer questions and tell you how to behave in each stage of labor, how to breathe correctly and how you can help yourself during labor in order to facilitate them ... The main female fears originate in ignorance of the process of what to expect and how to behave in a given situation. Good psychoprophylactic training will not only eliminate the gap in knowledge of the birth process, but also set the expectant mother for a successful outcome of childbirth, for a happy expectation of meeting her child.

"We cast out demons"

Demons mean fears of the coming birth. You should not relive the upcoming process in your soul again and again, wind yourself up and think about pain, how to survive it or about possible complications. Otherwise, a vicious circle is formed: the more you are afraid, the more likely complications and severe pain during contractions will occur. Remember that all thoughts are material, in scientific terms, negative emotions "set" the brain, and he will try to implement this setting. Childbirth should be expected not with fear, but with joy, because for so many long months a woman has worn a baby under her heart, how she wants to meet him and get to know him as soon as possible.

Warm water

If contractions started at home and time permits, it is recommended to take a warm but hot bath (provided that the amniotic fluid has not left). Warm water will help to relax as much as possible and release tension in the uterine muscle, contractions will become softer, and cervical opening will accelerate. If the waters have receded, a warm shower is allowed. In the maternity hospital, upon admission, the woman in labor is also sent to the shower, where you can stand under warm jets for your own pleasure.

Maximum relaxation

If contractions start at home and there are long breaks in between, you need to ensure yourself comfort and relaxation. You can listen to pleasant music, watch your favorite movie, calmly drink tea (if you don't have to) and even take a nap. The first period, especially in primiparous, is quite long, so a woman needs to gain strength and energy for childbirth.

Active behavior

By active behavior during labor is meant walking and adopting comfortable postures at the time of uterine contraction. Not so long ago, a woman in labor was prescribed to be in a horizontal position in the first period. To date, it has been proven that movement in an upright position forces the cervix to open (the presenting part presses on the cervix) and facilitates contractions. You can swing your pelvis, dance, or make circular movements with your hips.

Massage

The first stage of labor for the Sami is the time for a massage. You can do the massage yourself, but it is better to entrust this matter to your husband (if he is present at childbirth). You can stroke the stomach with light movements during the contraction (but only in a clockwise direction). It is also allowed to massage the lumbar and sacrum, pressure with fists on points on the sides of the spine in the lumbar spine and pressure with thumbs in the places of the anterior upper spines of the pelvis (they are easy to identify - the parts of the pelvis that protrude from the front the most).

Correct posture

At the moment of the contraction, the woman in labor takes the most comfortable position for her. This can be a forward tilt of the body with an emphasis on the wall or the headboard (as an option - the husband), while the legs are spread shoulder-width apart. You can get on all fours or squat down, it is also convenient to raise one leg by placing it on a chair, leaning against the wall (bed, windowsill). In many maternity hospitals today there are special large balls on which you can jump during the uterine contraction or lie down. When choosing and taking a comfortable position, it is important not to forget about correct breathing.

We breathe correctly

Proper breathing will not only reduce pain during contractions, but will also maximize the flow of oxygen to the fetus. Screaming during contractions is not recommended. First, when screaming, breathing is delayed, which means that oxygen does not flow to the child. Secondly, a lot of energy is spent on screaming, which will still be needed in the period of exertion. And, thirdly, by screaming you just scare the child (yes, he thinks that since mom is screaming, then everything is not all right).

Distracted

Helps relieve pain or at least forget about distractions. You can read poetry or sing songs, repeat the multiplication table aloud, or perform simple arithmetic operations.

Trust in the doctor

Another important point that affects the intensity of pain in the first period is trust in the doctor. If you do not like the doctor or you instinctively do not believe him, ask to replace the obstetrician. But the best option is a preliminary agreement with the doctor who will take delivery.

Practical example

I was seeing a young, first-pregnant woman. Somehow I won her trust, and she decided that I should take over the birth. And then one day, on a weekend, early in the morning the doorbell rang. I open it and see this woman who says that she has contractions, and she came for me to take me to the hospital. She did not come alone, of course, with her husband. I asked if it started long ago and is it tolerable yet? She replied that it was tolerable, the contractions had been going on for about 4 hours, the water did not leave. Well, since such a thing, there is no hurry, we drank tea, talked and laughed, and slowly went to the hospital (the hospital can be seen from the window of my house). When the woman in labor was formalized, the dimensions of the abdomen and pelvis were measured (the pelvis, by the way, turned out to be normal), I determined the position of the fetus and its presentation, listened to the heartbeat and invited the woman to the gynecological chair. During the examination, it turned out that the opening of the uterine pharynx is complete, the head is already on its way to the exit from the small pelvis. About an hour later, we gave birth to a healthy full-term boy.

Summing up, I want to note why the woman did not experience pain, but only minor discomfort during labor:

1. sufficient size of the pelvis and a medium-sized fetus;
2. a positive attitude towards childbirth and their successful completion;
3. husband support;
4. unlimited trust in the doctor.

Correct breathing

Correct breathing during childbirth and contractions not only relieves pain, but also helps the woman in labor to relax as much as possible, provides the body with oxygen for both the mother and the fetus, and favors the opening of the uterine pharynx. Unfortunately, many women treat the need to learn correct breathing with a fair amount of skepticism, not believing in its "miraculous" capabilities, but in vain. How to breathe correctly during labor and childbirth is taught in the "school of mothers", in terms of 30 - 32 weeks. It is necessary to master the breathing technique in such a way that all movements are performed automatically, this will facilitate the course of labor in the future.

Breathing technique

How to breathe correctly depends on the strength of the contraction and their phase. It is important to follow the rule: the longer and more intense the contractions, the more often the breathing. Correct breathing techniques:

We breathe deeply and slowly

This method of breathing is recommended in the latent phase of contractions, when they do not yet cause pain, but only bring discomfort. We inhale shortly and quickly, and exhale slowly and for a long time. You need to inhale through the nose, and exhale through the mouth, stretching out the lips with a "tube". It is recommended to count while breathing: while inhaling, count to 3, while exhaling to 5.

Candle technique

As soon as the contractions have gained strength and become longer, we breathe frequently and shallowly. Inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth with extended lips. We breathe so often and not deeply, as if blowing out a candle. By the end of the contraction, you can return to deep, slow breathing. Light dizziness that appears after this breathing technique is due to hyperventilation of the lungs. Frequent shallow breathing also promotes the release of endorphins ("hormones of joy") that reduce pain.

Big candle technique

By the end of the first stage of labor, we switch to the "big candle" technique. We breathe with effort, inhaling as if with a stuffy nose, and exhaling through almost closed lips.

Breathing in the event of early attempts

When the neck is not fully open, and the head begins to descend, early attempts occur, which are contraindicated and can provoke neck ruptures. In this case, it is recommended to change the position of the body (stand up or squat down), at the beginning of the bout breathe in a "candle" (superficially and often), then inhale briefly and repeat the "candle". Thus, breathe until the end of the contraction. In between uterine contractions, we breathe freely.

Doggy technique

We breathe frequently and shallowly, but the mouth is open (inhale and exhale through the mouth).

Pushing breathing

At the beginning of the attempt, we inhale as deeply as possible and push into the perineum, trying to push the child out. Avoid pushing on the face (otherwise, retinal blood vessel ruptures and headaches will occur). For the fight, you need to push three times. As soon as the head was born, we stop pushing and breathe like a dog. After the command, the pushing is resumed, during which the child is born.

By contractions after childbirth, women mean contractions of the subsequent period. After the birth of the child, it is necessary to give birth to the afterbirth. When the placenta has separated from the uterine walls, pains resume, but not as intense as in the first period. In this case, no special effort is required, it is enough to slightly push and the "baby's place" comes out of the uterus.

Excitement and light suspiciousness, impatient anticipation and every minute readiness to go to the hospital before childbirth are quite natural feelings that overwhelm every pregnant woman. That is why any pulling pain, discomfort, impulse in the lower abdomen, excessive movement of the baby in the womb are perceived as a signal that everything has begun and it is time to go to the hospital.

In fact, in the last stages, from time to time, false contractions may occur, which are also called training, or Braxton-Hicks, or "Braxtons". They need to be able to distinguish them from real ones, so as not to panic in vain and not call the ambulance team every time.

Despite the fact that false contractions are recognized as the norm and do not indicate abnormalities during pregnancy, they rarely occur on their own. Most often, their appearance is provoked by some external or internal factors.

The reasons can be:

• too intense physical activity (a woman during pregnancy continues to actively engage in sports, her work is associated with physical labor, she does too much around the house, was forced to stand on her feet for a long time, etc.);
• hot shower or bath;
• intrauterine hyperactivity of the child;
• drinking coffee;
• severe stress, nervous experiences;
• orgasm;
• fatigue;
• bad habits;
• overflowing bladder;
• insomnia;
• diet;
• dehydration of the body when a woman consumes too little clean drinking water.

There is no need to be afraid of false contractions, they do not bring any harm to health with them to either the mother or the baby. However, the sensations that they deliver are not the most pleasant and certainly will not brighten up the position of a pregnant woman.

If you avoid the above factors that provoke too frequent contractions of the uterus, even if training ones, nothing can darken the joyful expectation of the baby.

Mechanism

In fact, scientists are still just studying what actually constitutes false contractions during pregnancy, which are quite similar to real ones, but are not yet harbingers of the onset of labor. Here's what they've figured out so far.

1. These are rhythmic contractions of the uterine smooth muscles, which do not lead to cervical opening and childbirth.
2. They start from the 20th week. But at this time, few people feel them, since they are invisible. But at 38 or even 37 weeks of pregnancy, the uterus begins to train more actively, therefore, about 70% of expectant mothers feel the pulling heaviness in the lower abdomen. This is normal.
3. Some do not feel them at all, someone regularly complains of aching heaviness in the lower abdomen, characterized by frightening intensity.
4. Neither the absence nor the presence of false contractions is evidence of any pathologies of pregnancy.
5. They saturate the placenta with oxygen, various nutrients, because at the time of contraction of the uterus, blood rushes to the fetus more actively than usual.
6. Their appearance is associated with the excitability of the uterus, which at certain times can increase.
7. Their main task is to soften and shorten the cervix, thus preparing it for childbirth. It is not for nothing that false fights are also called training fights.

So there is no need to be afraid of false contractions at the end of pregnancy: this is a completely natural preparation of the body for the upcoming childbirth. However, expectant mothers should know their main symptoms in order to be able to distinguish them from real ones. Otherwise, in the last stages, you will have to call an ambulance every now and then and rush at full speed to the hospital, and then return home, having learned that the alarm was in vain.

Through the pages of history. False contractions are named after the English physician John Braxton Hicks, who was the first to describe this phenomenon in the 19th century (1872).

Signs and symptoms

You need to understand that everyone's organisms are very different. And due to these individual characteristics, signs of false contractions may not appear in pregnant women in the same way. For some, they will be more intense, more regular, more painful. And someone, until the very birth, will not even feel them. However, it is useful for everyone to know about them in order to catch up on time.

Doctors call the following symptoms characteristic of false contractions:

• Irregularity: many are interested in how many days there are false contractions - they can be repeated every 5-6 hours, or maybe once every 2-3 days, they have no specific cycle;
• short duration: no more than a minute - this is how long false contractions normally last, usually a few seconds;
• the muscles of the uterus are in tension;
• it should be noted that the timing from which week the false contractions begin is very individual: it is considered equally the norm if a woman felt them both at 20 weeks and at 38, for example;
• most often they wake up a woman in the middle of the night, since during the day, for business and worries, they are invisible.

These symptoms and signs can be used to identify false contractions that indicate work and the upcoming event. Do not be afraid: everything goes according to schedule. If there are about 2-3 weeks left until the appointed date, such harbingers warn the woman that it is time to prepare for the baby's birth. At the same time, not the most pleasant sensations may await her.

Disagreements. Most doctors consider false contractions a necessary phenomenon, as they train and prepare the uterus for the upcoming birth. However, there are those who express a slightly different opinion: if they arise very often, the walls of the uterus run the risk of softening too much, which will prevent it from toning and opening up during the birth process.

Sensations

It is the physical sensations characteristic of false contractions at the end of pregnancy that will not allow a woman to confuse them with real ones. You just need to sensitively listen to your own body and understand what is happening to it at one time or another.

When the harbingers begin, the pregnant woman may feel the following:

• relative painlessness, although this symptom of false contractions in each woman manifests itself differently, since the pain threshold is not the same for everyone;
• the discomfort;
• if you compare what false contractions are like, then they feel akin to pulling pain in the lower abdomen during the menstrual cycle;
• the uterus seems to harden, and this can be felt or even probed if you put your hand to the lower abdomen;
• there is no clear rhythm of contractions;
• quite unexpectedly, there is a sensation of compression in a certain area of \u200b\u200bthe abdomen or groin.

These sensations will allow the pregnant woman to distinguish false contractions from birth, to get together, not to panic and just continue to patiently wait for the baby's early birth. If, nevertheless, there is a fear and doubt whether these are real harbingers, a few useful recommendations will help you dispel them.

Another opinion. There is a point of view that false contractions have nothing to do with training the uterus at all, but are only the body's response to the hormonal burst that occurs during pregnancy.

Differences from real

Not only the pregnant woman herself, but also all her relatives, who are eagerly awaiting the birth of the baby, must know how to distinguish false contractions from real ones, so that at the most crucial moment either pack things and go to the hospital, or calmly wait out the uterine contractions and stay at home. You can distinguish them on several grounds.

• "Braxtons" do not go to the pelvis or back, unlike real contractions;
• even the most intense false contractions do not repeat more than 6 times in an hour, while this is quite typical for real ones;
• the duration of false contractions is constant - no more than a minute, while the real ones grow: the first painful sensations hold down for a few seconds, but each subsequent one increases in time and can be up to several minutes;
• feel the contraction? Change your posture: if it is a false alarm, the discomfort will disappear;
• real contractions are rhythmic, you can calculate how long they last and what the interval between them, and "Braxtons" are chaotic;
• false contractions are not as painful as real ones;
• according to statistics, false contractions in multiparous women are practically not felt: this is due to the fact that the mind and body of the mother "remember" the stress from previous labor pains and training uterine contractions are no longer perceived as an alarm signal; but real contractions in the second and subsequent pregnancies are not missed by anyone and almost everyone in a timely manner goes to the hospital;
• real contractions are accompanied by diarrhea, pulling pains in the lower spine and other generic harbingers.

Any difference between false contractions and real ones, given above, is quite obvious. One has only to carefully and sensitively listen to your own body. It is especially difficult for those who are expecting their first child and do not yet know what the true contractions of the uterus are, when the pain literally turns outward. Mothers who have already experienced this rarely go to the hospital with false contractions. How can you ease your condition in such moments?

An interesting fact. Psychologists who work with pregnant women note that those who are afraid of the upcoming birth have more painful false contractions than others.

What to do?

Despite the fact that training contractions of the uterus are rarely very painful, you want to get rid of discomfort and pulling heaviness in the lower abdomen faster. Therefore, it will be useful for expectant mothers to learn what to do in case of false contractions, so that they do not harm the baby and help themselves. There are a number of relaxing steps you can take to help your body and uterus return to normal.

• Take a walk for at least half an hour in the fresh air;
• take a short warm bath or shower;
• if you are already 36-37 weeks old, you need not to miss the discharge of the mucous plug, notice the abdominal prolapse in time and, in accordance with all these precursors, wait for childbirth, which may begin in 2-3 weeks;
• drink a glass of clean water at room temperature;
• change the position to a more comfortable one;
• listen to your favorite music;
• relax;
• nothing terrible will happen if you come to the hospital with false contractions: they will examine you and let you go home, having previously consulted on this issue;
• do some breathing exercises.

The most important thing here is not to confuse false contractions with real ones and not go for a walk instead of already being on the way to the hospital. So be careful, do not miss any harbinger. Analyze the situation: has the plug already come off, has your stomach gone down, have you urinated more often?

If all these signs of an approaching birth are present, and the contractions become regular and painful, then, without hesitation, go to the hospital. It also happens that in a given situation certain problems arise that require a quick and correct solution.

One more tip. If you realize that you are just having false contractions, but they deliver unpleasant sensations from which you cannot be distracted, start ... singing. Practice shows that favorite motives relieve tension and help restore peace of mind.

Complications

According to statistics, 1/3 of all pregnant women do not even feel the presence of false contractions, they are so invisible and do not cause any trouble. Another 1/3 of women feel them, but everything goes more or less calmly, especially if the expectant mother is aware of them and knows how to distinguish false from real. Problems arise with the last 1/3, in which the training contractions of the uterus do not occur in the same way as in everyone, which may indicate some pathologies of pregnancy. Our task is to deal with emerging complications in order to be on the alert and seek help from doctors in time.

• Pain

In rare cases, painful false contractions occur that feel like real contractions. Labor activity has not yet begun, and the contractions of the uterus are so intense that the pregnant woman simply bends over in pain. What could be the reason? Either the pain threshold is too low, or placental abruption: if false contractions cause unbearable pain, you must definitely inform your doctor about this.

• Too often

It also happens that frequent false contractions do not give the pregnant rest. On the one hand, this indicator is very individual. But normally, even immediately before the birth itself, they should not be repeated more than 3-4 times a day. If this happens more often, you need to undergo an additional examination to identify pathologies of the uterus. Only after that, the doctor can determine why the woman was tortured by false contractions, repeated 5-6 times a day.

• Long

Long-term false contractions may indicate serious problems with the uterus or the baby in the womb. Therefore, if you feel pulling pains in the lower abdomen for 20-30 minutes, immediately go to the hospital or call a doctor at home.

• Allocations

If false contractions are accompanied by secretions, this can be an alarming signal:

- bloody discharge - a symptom of placental abruption;

- mucous membranes - the plug may have come off;

- watery - a sign of water discharge.

You need to understand that false contractions cannot be used to determine when labor will begin, because they can be felt already from the 20th week of pregnancy. Closer to the cherished date, they may simply become more intense and more regular, but in general it cannot be said that they are the main harbinger of the imminent birth of a child. Only in combination with other signs (cork discharge, abdominal prolapse, etc.) can they indicate that there are only a few days left before the long-awaited event. Otherwise, you should not panic and collect bags with things in the hospital.