What do contractions feel like before labor?

Pregnant women will have uterine contractions before giving birth. When the uterine contractions reach a certain degree, the amniotic fluid will break. At this time, the cervix of the pregnant woman will be completely opened and the birth can begin. However, for some pregnant women, their cervix may open slowly. At this time, the doctor will give some oxytocin injections to help the pregnant woman give birth. So what does the uterine contraction feel like before giving birth?

What do pre-birth contractions feel like?

1. What does it feel like to have contractions before giving birth?

By the due date, only painful uterine contractions are the precursor to delivery. Some women feel the pain of the initial contractions in the abdomen, while others feel it in the waist. Don't be nervous and be scared by the pain. In fact, if the contractions are not strong, you may not feel them or they may be the same as the lower abdominal pain during menstruation. When uterine contractions cause you slight pain, after a while, the pain gradually intensifies, the intervals between them shorten, and the pain duration prolongs. The contractions come like waves, and the pain spreads to the lower abdomen, or there is a feeling of lower back pain and defecation. This kind of contraction is in preparation for the birth of the baby. So this little pain is nothing. As long as you cooperate with the doctor and use the breathing exercises you have practiced to coordinate the contractions, you can successfully go through the delivery.

2. Does uterine contraction affect the fetus?

True uterine contractions are the main sign of fetal birth and generally have no adverse effects on the fetus.

False labor is a common symptom during pregnancy and is generally harmless to the fetus, but if it occurs too frequently it may cause hypoxia or premature birth in the baby. At this time, we need to find out the cause of frequent uterine contractions and see if it causes insufficient blood supply to the placenta, because frequent uterine contractions can lead to fetal growth retardation, and in severe cases may even lead to fetal death.

If uterine contractions are abnormal, expectant mothers should seek medical attention in time to observe the condition of the fetus. And consult a doctor to decide whether to preserve the pregnancy or take other measures.

3. The difference between uterine contractions and fetal movements

3.1. Different ranges of abdominal distension

Fetal movement is the feeling that the fetus moves in the amniotic fluid in the uterus and collides with the uterine wall, which the mother feels. At this time, there may be a feeling of distension or tightness in the abdomen, but it is only local. If your entire abdomen feels bloated and it comes and goes, it could be uterine contractions.

3.2. Different frequencies of occurrence

Fetal movement occurs suddenly and expectant mothers generally do not feel any discomfort. Uterine contraction is a slow process, the uterus will gradually harden, accompanied by abdominal distension or abdominal pain.

3.3. Different locations of occurrence

Fetal movement is intermittent, and the location where the fetal movement is felt is consistent with the location where the fetus moves in the uterus, and it changes frequently. Therefore, the sensation of fetal movement can be felt in any part of the uterus and at different times. If the entire uterus becomes hard, and the expectant mother feels her abdomen bloating and falling, and sometimes even has the urge to urinate or defecate, then it is uterine contraction.

3.4. Different ways to relieve discomfort

When the fetal movement is more intense, if the expectant mother finds a comfortable and quiet place to sit down, plays some light music, hums some songs, or talks to the fetus, reads books, or gently strokes the abdomen, this will help the fetus relax and the discomfort of fetal movement will be relieved.

How to distinguish true and false uterine contractions

1. False labor

A few weeks before delivery, the uterine muscles are more sensitive and irregular uterine contractions will occur, lasting for a short time, with weak force, or limited to the lower part of the uterus. It stops after several hours and cannot cause the cervix to open, so it is not labor and is called false labor. This type of uterine contraction is irregular, non-cyclical, and painless.

2. True uterine contractions

The contractions of the uterus during labor are regular. Initially, the interval is about 10 minutes, and pregnant women feel abdominal pain, and then the duration of the pain gradually increases to 40 seconds to 60 seconds. The severity of the attacks also increases, and the interval time shortens to about 3 to 5 minutes. When the uterus contracts and abdominal pain occurs, the lower abdomen may feel hard.

Some women feel the pain of the beginning of uterine contractions in the abdomen, while others feel it in the waist. In fact, if the contractions are not strong, you may not feel them or they may be the same as the lower abdominal pain during menstruation. The intensity of pain also varies from person to person. When contractions cause you mild pain. The intensity of pain also varies from person to person. When uterine contractions cause you slight pain, after a while, the pain gradually intensifies, the intervals between them shorten, and the pain duration prolongs.