Is it normal to have frequent and painless uterine contractions in late pregnancy?

When pregnant women reach the late stage of pregnancy, they will experience uterine contractions, which means that the time of delivery is getting closer. The situation of uterine contractions is also more complicated. Sometimes uterine contractions are frequent, but the pregnant woman does not feel any pain. On the one hand, we should consider that it may be the time of delivery. On the other hand, we should also be vigilant in time to avoid some unhealthy reasons that may cause this phenomenon. Generally speaking, frequent uterine contractions in the late pregnancy, that is, around 37 weeks, are a relatively normal phenomenon, because delivery is approaching and normal contractions are normal. However, if frequent uterine contractions occur in the middle of pregnancy, you should be alert.

Is it normal to have frequent but painless contractions in late pregnancy ?

Is it normal to have frequent but painless uterine contractions in the late pregnancy? It may be due to uterine contractions and labor. In this case, if the prenatal examination shows that the conditions for normal delivery are met, medication to induce labor can be used. Frequent uterine contractions, if they occur after 37 weeks of pregnancy, indicate that birth is imminent.

Expectant mothers can first evaluate themselves to see if this uncomfortable condition can be relieved by themselves. If not, then they should first evaluate the frequency of uterine contractions. If a pregnant mother with her first child experiences pain more than three times within ten minutes, or a pregnant mother with her second or subsequent child experiences pain once within ten minutes, then they should go to the hospital to evaluate whether they need to be hospitalized for delivery. Because the fetus is full-term at this time, not premature. In addition, if water breaks, vaginal bleeding is heavy, or fetal movement is significantly reduced after 37 weeks of pregnancy, you need to go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible.

If frequent uterine contractions occur between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy, you should pay more attention and prevent premature birth. This type of expectant mother must fully understand what kind of situation is abnormal uterine contraction, and distinguish between false uterine contraction and premature uterine contraction. If the frequency is very regular and it appears more and more frequently, it is best to see a doctor as soon as possible, and the fetus may need to be preserved.

Some expectant mothers are at high risk of premature birth. Frequent uterine contractions indicate that the uterus is unstable and there may be a risk of premature birth. They should go to a professional hospital for a check-up in time.

The difference between uterine contractions and fetal movements in late pregnancy

It is normal for most healthy expectant mothers to feel a tightness in their stomach, which is a reaction caused by uterine contractions. Generally, you don't feel pain when your stomach tightens. Sometimes it's a mild feeling like menstrual pain. Each time it's very short, about less than 1 minute, and it often occurs frequently after the expectant mother is tired. Fetal movement does not mean that the entire belly becomes tight and hard, but only a certain part of the belly becomes hard, and sometimes you can feel the fetus's limbs.

1. The feeling of fetal movement: Fetal movement is the feeling the mother feels when the fetus moves in the amniotic fluid in the uterus and hits the uterine wall. The mother's feelings will vary depending on the way the fetus moves and the intensity of the movement. In fact, the fetus starts moving in the womb at 9 weeks, but the force is too weak. It is not until the 16th to 20th week of pregnancy that it is strong enough for the mother to feel it.

2. The difference between uterine contractions and fetal movements in the late pregnancy: fetal movements are 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. If the entire uterus becomes hard, the pregnant woman will feel bloated and weighed down, and sometimes even have the urge to urinate or defecate.

Finally, I will teach expectant mothers the “151 rule” which is the easiest way to distinguish between abdominal tightness and labor pains. The rule is: if contractions last at least 1 minute each, with an interval of 5 minutes or less, and this situation continues for at least 1 hour, then this is the labor pain before delivery and you should go to the hospital immediately.