What to do if you have false labor during pregnancy

Everyone knows that when a woman enters her due date, she may experience some uterine contractions. However, most uterine contractions are false contractions. Only when the amniotic fluid breaks are they true contractions. Only then can a woman enter the delivery stage. However, false contractions can also cause a woman's stomach to feel pain, and it can also occur during pregnancy. So what should you do if you have false contractions in the second trimester of pregnancy?

Definition and related measures of false labor

What is false labor?

False labor, also called prolonged labor, is an occasional uterine contraction. Its characteristics are that the time of occurrence is irregular and the degree varies from time to time. False labor begins around 6 weeks of pregnancy, but you won't feel it until the second half of pregnancy. Before delivery, false labor will become more and more frequent due to the traction stimulation of the lower uterine segment caused by the descending fetal head.

In the weeks before delivery, the uterine muscles are more sensitive and irregular uterine contractions will occur, lasting for a short time, being weak, 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.

False labor in the last stage of pregnancy is different from the painless and occasional false labor in the first trimester. False labor in early pregnancy does not cause any changes in the cervix. The uterine contractions at this time may help the cervix become "mature": the cervix gradually becomes softer and thinner. It may even cause the cervix to start opening slightly. This period sometimes indicates the onset of pre-labor.

Measures to produce false labor in the second trimester

There are generally several reasons that cause uterine contractions: one is the fetal factor. When the fetus moves with a large range of motion, it will cause uterine contractions, but the intensity is not great; the second is the factor of the expectant mother, such as diarrhea, peritonitis, appendicitis and other diseases; the third is the external environment. The expectant mother may be overworked, frightened, over-exercise, have a strong impact, or have bad living habits (smoking, alcoholism), or take certain medications, which can also cause uterine contractions. The first aspect is beyond the control of expectant mothers. If the second factor occurs, seek medical attention in time. The third aspect should be avoided as much as possible, and attention should be paid to rest and not go to crowded public places.

No matter when and where the expectant mother finds uterine contractions, she must quickly put down what she is doing and find a quiet place to rest. "If you can sit, don't stand; if you can lie down, don't sit." The contractions will be relieved after resting. If they are not relieved, she must go to the hospital for medical treatment.