You’ve heard the story before. A woman is nearing her due date and starts feeling contractions, so she rushes to the hospital. After being examined and waiting in the hospital to see if the contractions progress, she is told to go home because she was not in true labor.
If you are pregnant, it is important to be aware of the signs of labor. Doing this can help you distinguish between Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor) and true labor, and keep trips to and from the hospital to a minimum.
Many women experience Braxton Hicks contractions as their due date approaches. Braxton Hicks contractions are uterine muscle contractions that occur during pregnancy that are not signs of labor. These contractions can become more frequent and intense later on in pregnancy and are often the cause of women visiting the hospital before labor starts.
Unlike labor contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions are usually irregular; unpredictable; and felt in the abdomen, not the back. They do not become more frequent and intense over time, and they are not accompanied with other signs of labor, such as light vaginal bleeding and water breaking. Many times, changes in position or increased activity cause Braxton Hicks contractions to slow down or stop.
While the signs of labor vary widely from woman to woman, and even from pregnancy to pregnancy, certain symptoms indicate that labor has begun. Become familiar with the following signs of “true” labor so you will be better able to tell when your labor has begun:
During labor, the pain that accompanies uterine contractions generally begins in your upper abdomen and can radiate into your lower back.
When you begin to feel contractions, you should record their frequency, length, and intensity. In true labor, contractions develop into a regular pattern, with shorter intervals between them. They usually last more than 30 seconds and get longer and stronger with time. They will continue regardless of activity changes. Some women have contractions for days leading up to childbirth, while others feel only slight pressure and pain.
If your contractions get longer, stronger, and closer together, it is probably time to go to the hospital. At the hospital, your doctor can examine your cervix to determine if you are in labor. During labor, your cervix will dilate, and become thinner and softer in preparation for your baby’s arrival.
If you think you might be in labor, call your doctor. Monitoring your signs and symptoms may help you determine when labor begins, but you cannot know for sure until you get to the hospital for an examination.
RESOURCES:
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education
American Pregnancy Association
http://www.americanpregnancy.org
National Women’s Health Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org/index_e.asp
Women's Health Matters
http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca/
References:
Childbirth. National Women’s Health Information Center website. Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/Pregnancy/. Accessed August 26, 2005.
DynaMed Editors. Preterm labor. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated April 28, 2010. Accessed April 28, 2010.
False labor. American Pregnancy Association website. Available at: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/falselabor.html. Accessed September 6, 2005.
Leitich H. Controversies of diagnosis in preterm labor. BJOG. 2005;112(supp):61-63.
Torpy JM, Lynm C, Glass RM. Birth labor. JAMA. 2002;288:1432.
Last reviewed January 2009 by Ganson Purcell Jr., MD, FACOG, FACPE
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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