Why do I have contractions?

A woman's body functions will undergo many changes after she becomes pregnant. She will experience morning sickness in the early stages of pregnancy, and uterine contractions and fetal movements in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. Many women who are pregnant for the first time are particularly nervous about uterine contractions. In fact, uterine contractions are a normal physiological phenomenon after pregnancy. The frequency of uterine contractions will gradually increase with the development of the baby. After the due date, uterine contractions will become more frequent. This article introduces the relevant content, let’s take a look.

1. What is uterine contraction?

Uterine contraction is the physiological contraction of the uterus, which mainly includes false uterine contraction and true uterine contraction.

True uterine contractions are one of the main signs of labor. These contractions are irregular and weak at first, but over time they become regular, increasing in intensity, lasting longer, and with shorter intervals between them. If the interval is 2-3 minutes, it lasts for 50-60 seconds.

False labor, also known as prolonged labor, is an occasional uterine contraction. There are three main characteristics: irregular time, no periodicity, and varying degrees of intensity. False labor usually begins around 6 weeks of pregnancy, but many mothers will not feel it until the second trimester. In the last few months and especially in the last few weeks of pregnancy, there will be noticeable irregular uterine contractions.

2. How long will the contractions take to result in childbirth?

If your contractions become more regular and you feel you are about to give birth, call the hospital. If the contractions become very frequent, almost every 5 to 6 minutes, or the pain increases with each contraction, you should go to the hospital immediately to prepare for delivery. Generally speaking, the first labor process often lasts within 12 to 14 hours, and you can choose to wait for a few hours at home. You can walk around your home slowly and take a break when you feel you need it.

3. What to do if uterine contractions occur in the last three months of pregnancy

In the last three months of pregnancy, expectant mothers may sometimes experience false labor. It is difficult for inexperienced expectant mothers to distinguish between true and false labor, but false labor is not a sign of labor, and it is difficult to estimate how long it will take for false labor to last. If any of these symptoms, such as spotting, water breaking, or labor pains, occur, these are generally signs that labor is imminent, and you can go to the hospital to wait for delivery. If not, observe the contractions further.