When training fights turn into real ones. Training contractions before childbirth - symptoms and sensations. When to call an ambulance

Pregnancy is the strongest stress for the female body. But every woman is ready to go through this for the sake of the birth of a treasured little ball of love.

Women in position will agree that during pregnancy changes occur in the body that affect the health of the expectant mother.

Even if the pregnancy proceeds without complications, the woman will still not be able to avoid training contractions, so she should know what false contractions are and for how long they appear.

Training contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions appear in the middle of pregnancy. They are designed to prepare the birth canal for the birth of a baby.

False contractions are contractions of the muscles of the uterus in an involuntary manner. They are mandatory for a woman in order to prepare the muscles for childbirth.

Do not worry, this phenomenon does not harm the baby. But often they are confused with the threat of miscarriage.

Note! The symptoms of miscarriage and training muscle contractions are similar. But their main difference is that the signs of Braxton-Hicks contractions disappear, and the symptoms of the threat of miscarriage increase.

Table: symptoms

Criterion	Description
Discomfort	There is discomfort in the lower abdomen. When probing, the uterus hardens and its contours are drawn on the stomach. Feelings are similar to the period of menstrual flow.
Allocations	There should be no separations. Whitish discharge is allowed. But if a woman notices bloody discharge, then this is a direct threat to the life of the future crumbs.
Pain	Pain is not felt. But many note that during contractions they felt how the lower abdomen “sips” a little. But experts assure that up to 35 weeks, false contractions are not sick, but only bring discomfort to a woman.
Spasms	False contractions are periodic spasmodic in nature. They appear suddenly, then gradually stop.
Duration	The fight lasts from thirty seconds to one minute. She is painless. Sometimes the duration of the fight reaches two minutes.
Interval	There are up to four contractions per hour. They are frequent, and it is impossible to call them regular, cyclical.

If the contractions are frequent, regular, strong and bring pain, then this is the beginning of labor or the threat of miscarriage.

It is worth remembering that training contractions do not cause severe pain. But a woman still needs to rest or change her body position. This will make it easier for contractions to flow.

If they bring severe discomfort, then it is worth using the technique of rhythmic breathing.

How long before birth do contractions start?

Each female body is individual, so it is very difficult to say exactly from which week such changes begin.

But it can be noted unambiguously that this phenomenon begins to manifest itself after the twentieth week of pregnancy.

But it is worth noting that this process sometimes it occurs completely without symptoms, so many women during pregnancy may not be aware that preparations for childbirth have begun in their body. But this happens very rarely.

When practice bouts start:

During the first pregnancy. If a woman is pregnant for the first time, then it is more difficult for her to recognize this process.
Experts say that Braxton Hicks contractions appear as early as the sixth week. interesting position. But the first symptoms are felt only in the second trimester.
As mentioned earlier, each organism is individual and it is impossible to predict their exact appearance. Many expectant mothers experience this phenomenon only from 37 weeks.
In nulliparous women, the process is more painful in most cases. If the expectant mother has already noticed uterine contractions in the later stages, then it is better for her to immediately consult a doctor.
After all, sometimes false contractions quickly flow into labor, that is, they are harbingers of childbirth.
During the second pregnancy. The second pregnancy is often easier for women, so in multiparous contractions appear closer to the end of the third trimester.

Important! If during pregnancy the expectant mother has a uterine tone, then she will not feel the harbingers of childbirth.

Causes of Braxton Hicks contractions

Often the appearance of training contractions of the muscles of the uterus provokes:

Excessive activity of a pregnant girl.
Excessive activity of the fetus in the womb.
Insufficient amount of moisture in the female body.
Full bladder.
Nervous tension.
Stress, anxiety, fatigue.
Completion of sexual intercourse.
Frequent touching and stroking of the abdomen.

If this process brings discomfort, it is worth:

Control fluid intake.
Reduce physical activity.
Stop having sex for a while.

How to distinguish contractions from training: symptoms

False contractions are not difficult to distinguish from real ones. But it's hard to figure it out on your own.

In order to know how to determine real abbreviations from false ones, you must first find out what they are for. Training contractions are aimed at stretching the muscles of the uterus for further childbirth.

They increase blood flow to the uterus and help transport oxygen to the unborn baby.

Note! With the onset of labor, the cervix gradually opens, preparing for the birth of the baby.

With false, the cervix remains closed. This is the main criterion for determining false or real abbreviations.

It is impossible to independently determine the condition of the cervix, so a doctor's consultation is necessary.

Table: differences between false contractions and real ones

Criterion	real contractions	Training bouts
cyclicality	Cyclic interval between contractions. The onset of labor is characterized by the fact that the marriages become more frequent, their duration increases with time.	Irregular interval between contractions. If after the first contraction the second does not appear for a long time, then the female body began to prepare the muscles of the uterus for childbirth.
Pain	Pain is felt.	In most cases, contractions go away without pain. In rare cases, lower back pain.
Neutralization of pain	Painful sensations at the beginning of labor cannot be removed on their own. This can only be done with the help of painkillers.	If, after changing the position of the body, the contractions stopped, then this is a sign of the onset of training fights.

Useful video

Update: October 2018

The term of childbirth is approaching and more and more questions arise for the expectant mother. Among the many exciting pregnant topics is the following: what are false contractions during pregnancy? Unfortunately, not every obstetrician considers it necessary to explain the essence of false contractions, how they differ from real ones and whether this is normal. Most pregnant women face false contractions and, as a rule, shortly before childbirth. In addition to such contractions, a number of other harbingers testify to the approaching birth, which are difficult not to notice.

Harbingers of childbirth

The period of gestation in women on average lasts 280 days or 40 obstetric weeks. By the end of this period, in about 2 weeks, harbingers of childbirth appear, which inform about their imminent onset. Thanks to the harbingers, the woman understands that the long-awaited meeting with the baby will soon come. These signs appear in all women, in some they are well expressed, and in others they do not notice at all. But childbirth rarely begins suddenly, “without warning”, and the period of precursors is laid down by nature so that the woman has time to prepare and tune in for childbirth. The appearance of all the harbingers of childbirth is not at all obligatory; the appearance of one or two should already alert the woman.

false contractions

The concept of false contractions was introduced by the English doctor Braxton Hicks at the end of the 19th century, so their other name is Braxton Hicks or training contractions. False contractions are called periodic, spontaneous muscle contractions of the uterus. Their appearance is recorded already from 6 weeks of gestation, but in most pregnant women they are felt only after 20 weeks. By the end of pregnancy, at about 38 weeks, false or training contractions are felt by expectant mothers in 70% of cases. Such contractions are called false, since they do not lead to the start of labor and stop on their own.

Prolapse of the abdomen

The belly drops in expectant mothers a couple of weeks before birth in primiparas and a few hours in multiparous. This is due to the fact that the presenting part of the baby, as a rule, the head, is pressed against the entrance to the small pelvis, pulling the uterus along with it. At the same time, her top part(bottom), also descends, which relieves the pressure of the uterus on the chest and abdominal cavity. From the moment the woman notes relief of breathing, shortness of breath disappears with little physical exertion, but it becomes more difficult to sit or walk. Since the uterus no longer lifts the stomach, heartburn and belching disappear. But the downward movement of the uterus increases the pressure on the bladder, which is manifested by increased urination.

With the prolapse of the uterus, a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and discomfort in the region of the inguinal ligaments may appear. It is also possible the appearance of tingling in the legs and lower back. These symptoms are associated with irritation of the nerve endings located in the small pelvis when the head is inserted into its entrance.

Mucus plug comes off

This sign is considered the most characteristic, it is difficult not to notice it. The cervical glands from early pregnancy begin to produce a thick secret that fills cervical canal and prevents the penetration of pathogenic microorganisms into the uterine cavity, thereby protecting the fetus and amniotic fluid from infection. On the eve of childbirth in the body of a woman, the production of estrogens increases, due to which the cervix begins to soften and open slightly, which contributes to the discharge of the mucous plug. Characteristic signs of its discharge are jelly-like mucous clots that are visible on linen. The color of the mucous plug is different: from white or transparent to yellowish or pinkish. Often, streaks of blood are visible in the cork, which is considered the norm and indicates the imminent onset of labor (within a day). The mucous plug is released either entirely and immediately, or in parts throughout the day. The discharge of the cork is painless, but sipping pains in the lower abdomen may occur. The timing of the cork discharge varies. She can depart both 2 weeks before the onset of labor, and directly with the onset of contractions.

Weight loss

One to two weeks before the start of contractions, the weight of the pregnant woman decreases (by about 500 grams - 2 kg). The action of progesterone, which retained fluid in the body, decreases, and estrogens are included in the work. As a result, excess fluid is removed from the body, swelling is reduced, it is much easier to put on shoes and put on gloves with rings.

Changes in urination and defecation

Most pregnant women notice the appearance of constipation before childbirth, which is associated with compression of the rectum by the presenting part of the child. But the reverse situation is also possible - the occurrence of diarrhea. Urination also becomes more frequent, as the fetal head presses on the bladder, provoking a frequent desire to urinate. Urinary incontinence is possible, especially during physical exertion.

Change in fetal movement

By the end of the pregnancy, the expectant mother notes a decrease in the motor activity of the child. This is due to the rapid growth and increase in fetal weight. The child becomes cramped in the uterus, which is reflected in his movements, they become smaller.

Frequent mood swings

On the eve of childbirth, a pregnant woman is characterized by frequent mood swings. Activity and efficiency are suddenly replaced by tears, which is due to neuroendocrine processes and fatigue in a woman. Often, future mothers fall into apathy, drowsiness and seek solitude. All these signs indicate the accumulation of energy before the upcoming birth act.

Causes and characteristics of false contractions

What are false contractions for? First of all, they keep the uterus in good shape, “train” it before childbirth and create conditions for the “ripening” of the cervix. Secondly, thanks to the training folds, blood flow to the child increases, which contributes to its better saturation with oxygen and nutrients. It becomes clear that false contractions are absolutely normal manifestations, which you should not be afraid of. There are a number of factors that can push the occurrence of false contractions.

Provoking factors

Training bouts appear under the following conditions:

excessive physical activity (housework, sports, standing for a long time, etc.);
taking a hot shower / bath;
increased motor activity of the fetus;
use and strong often (excite the nervous system and increase the tone of the uterus);
emotional stress, stress;
active sex and orgasm (release of oxytocin, which promotes uterine contractions);
smoking and drinking alcohol;
fatigue, sleep disturbance;
full bladder (puts pressure on the uterus, forcing it to contract);
(the volume of circulating blood decreases, the blood supply to the uterus worsens, which provokes its contractions);
malnutrition or malnutrition;
multiple pregnancy or large fetus (too tight space for the child / children, any movement irritates the uterine walls);
overeating or hunger, consumption of "soda" (causes the stomach to contract, the irritation of which is transmitted to the uterus);
touching the belly of a stranger.

Characteristics of false contractions

As indicated, false contractions occur in the second half of gestation, but usually on the eve of childbirth (at 38-39 weeks of gestation). As a rule, training contractions appear in the evening, when a woman is resting. These contractions do not cause pain, they occur irregularly and infrequently. In addition, false contractions only prepare the cervix for dilatation, but do not cause it. Some expectant mothers may not feel false contractions, but this does not indicate deviations.

Symptoms and sensations

Since each organism is individual, the symptoms of false contractions may vary. Someone feels them well due to the significant intensity and severity of unpleasant sensations, while for someone they go almost unnoticed. To characteristics practice bouts include:

contractions are irregular, it is impossible to catch the rhythm of their occurrence (they can occur every 5-6 hours (but less than 6 times per hour) and after 1-2 days;
the duration of false contractions is short, a few seconds, no more than a minute;
tension (compression) of the uterus;
bright sensations during contractions, do not cause pain, but bring discomfort;
usually occur in the evening or at night when a woman is resting (during the day, expectant mothers often do not focus on them);
the intensity of contractions quickly decreases with a change in body position.

What does it feel like with false contractions? In many cases, training contractions are painless, and expectant mothers endure them quite easily. But in the case of a low threshold of pain sensitivity, false contractions are very unpleasant and even require assistance. Feelings during false contractions resemble menstrual pain: a pulling character and occur in the lower abdomen. Also, a woman herself can feel the hardening of the uterus by placing her hand on her stomach.

Differences between real contractions and false ones

How to distinguish false contractions from real ones? Signs of training and true fights are shown in the table:

sign	training	true
Significant pain that worsens over time	-	+
Increasing duration of the fight	-	+
Drainage of amniotic fluid	-	+
There is no clear rhythm of uterine contractions, irregular contractions	+	-
The intensity of the contraction increases, uterine contractions last a minute or longer	-	+
The disappearance of contractions with a change in body position or physical activity	+	-
The cervix gradually opens and smoothes	-	+
There is pressure either in the vagina or in the pelvis	-	+
Last less than 2 hours and less than 4 uterine contractions per hour	+	-

How to deal with false contractions

To eliminate the discomfort caused by training contractions, following some recommendations will help:

Walk

A leisurely walk in a park or square will help not only eliminate discomfort, but also enrich the mother's blood with oxygen, which is useful for the baby.

Change body position

Sometimes it is enough to change the position of the body, to take the most comfortable position. If the pregnant woman is lying, you can stand up and take a few steps, or sit down when standing for a long time.

get distracted

Watching your favorite movie, listening to soothing music or reading a book will help you relax and unwind.

warm water

Taking a warm shower or bath with aromatic oil can help ease Braxton Hicks contractions.

Proper breathing

The occurrence of false contractions is an excellent moment to practice the correct breathing in childbirth, which was taught in the classes at the school of mothers. Take deep breaths through your nose, trying to exhale slowly and smoothly through your mouth, and lips folded into a tube. You can try dog-like breathing - intermittent and frequent, but do not get carried away, otherwise your head will spin.

Drink water or have a snack

If false contractions are due to dehydration, drinking a glass of plain water. In case of hunger, even a light one, which provoked uterine contractions, you should have a snack, but easily digestible and nutritious (for example, a banana).

When to call an ambulance

Sometimes there are situations when it is necessary to urgently call ambulance or contact your doctor:

the gestational age at which uterine contractions appeared is less than 36 weeks (the threat of premature birth is not excluded);
the occurrence of moderate or profuse bleeding (suspicion of placental abruption);
the appearance of watery discharge (possible outpouring of amniotic fluid);
discharge of the mucous plug before 36 weeks;
pressing pains in the sacral and lumbar regions;
feeling of pressure in the perineum;
excessive physical activity of the child or its sharp decrease;
the frequency of contractions is 3 or more in 10 minutes (the beginning of the birth act).

Preliminary period - what does it mean? The preliminary period is the length of time during which the woman's body prepares for childbirth. That is, the preliminary period can be called the preparatory period, during which the harbingers of childbirth appear. The normal preliminary period is recorded in 30 - 33% of women at the end of gestation (38 - 40 weeks). The physiological preliminary period is characterized by:

contractions that occur with different frequency, duration and intensity, but last no more than 6-8 hours;
possible spontaneous disappearance of contractions and their reappearance after 24 hours;
sleep and general well-being of the pregnant woman are satisfactory;
there is a complete readiness of the expectant mother for childbirth (“mature” cervix, mammary and oxytocin tests are positive, etc.);
the uterus is in normotonus, the fetus does not suffer in utero;
in 70%, the normal preliminary period develops into adequate labor activity.

Pathological preliminary period

They speak of a pathological preliminary period when the preparatory period is prolonged, characterized by irregular but painful contractions that do not contribute to structural changes in the cervix. It is diagnosed in 10 - 17% of pregnant women and, as a rule, turns into labor anomalies (weakness of contractions or discoordination of contractions). In foreign literature, such a pathology is called "false birth".

The reasons

The pathological nature of the preliminary period can be provoked by:

emotional lability and neuroses;
endocrine pathology (obesity or underweight, menstrual irregularities, genital infantilism, etc.);
somatic pathology (heart defects, arrhythmias, hypertension, kidney and liver diseases);
chronic inflammatory processes of the uterus and cervix;
large fruit;
(dystrophic processes);
fear of childbirth, unwanted pregnancy;
first births in women younger than 17 and older than 30;
little and;
incorrect position of the fetus and placenta;
and others.

How does it manifest

The clinical picture of the pathological preliminary period is characterized by painful contractions that occur not only at night, but also during the day. The contractions are irregular and do not turn into true ones for a long time. The pathological preliminary period can continue from one to ten days, which disrupts the sleep of the pregnant woman and contributes to her fatigue.

The cervix does not undergo structural changes, that is, it does not “ripen”. It is long, located anteriorly or posteriorly, dense, and the external and internal pharynx are closed. Also, the lower segment of the uterus does not unfold, and the uterus itself is easily excitable and has an increased tone.

The presenting part of the child does not press against the entrance to the small pelvis for a long time, despite the absence of any discrepancy between the size of the baby and the mother's pelvis. The presence of uterine hypertonicity makes it difficult to palpate the head and small parts of the child.

Uterine contractions are monotonous for a long time, the intervals between them are not shortened and the intensity of contractions does not increase. The psycho-emotional status of the expectant mother also suffers. She is irritable and whiny, aggressive and afraid of childbirth, doubts their successful completion.

The long course of the pathological preliminary period is often complicated by the premature outflow of water and. Due to the expenditure of energy, this pathology often turns into a weakness of the ancestral forces.

Vegetative disorders are often noted (neurocirculatory dystonia, excessive sweating), a woman complains of pain in the lumbar and sacral regions, palpitations and shortness of breath, painful stirring of the baby.

Question answer

Question:
I am about to give birth for the first time and I am afraid that I will not be able to distinguish false contractions from true ones. What do i do?

Many primiparous women are afraid to miss real contractions, mistaking them for false ones. Doctors recommend: if there is any doubt about false contractions, especially if they are sore and last a minute or more, you should go to the hospital. The obstetrician will conduct an internal vaginal examination and assess the maturity and. If the alarm is false, the woman will be allowed to go home with a recommendation to come to the antenatal clinic in 2-3 days.

Question:
When I gave birth for the first time, the doctors told me about some incorrect preparatory contractions and after a while they opened the fetal bladder, after which I gave birth myself. What was it and is there a high probability of recurrence of this situation in the second birth?

In the first birth, you had a pathological preliminary period. The likelihood of its development in the second birth depends on many reasons, but primarily on the mood for the successful completion of childbirth. Attend mothers' school, do self-hypnosis and breathing exercises, try to get rid of the fear of childbirth and follow the doctor's recommendations. Competent psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth will significantly reduce the chances of a pathological course of the preparatory period.

Question:
I have 41 - 42 weeks (counted in the antenatal clinic), but there are no false contractions and other harbingers of childbirth. What to do?

You may be having an overdue pregnancy. To stimulate labor, use natural methods (long walks, sex, certain diets, etc.).

Question:
How is a pathological preliminary period treated?

The tactics of managing a woman depends on the duration of the pathological preparatory period, the condition of the cervix, the intensity of pain, the condition of the mother and child. With a "mature" neck and the duration of this pathology is less than 6 hours, an opening of the fetal bladder is performed to stimulate contractions. If the cervix is “immature”, but this period lasts 6 hours or less, sedatives(Relanium) and preparation of the cervix (prepidil-gel intracervically). In the case of a protracted course (more than 10 hours) of the pathological preparatory period, a medical sleep-rest is prescribed, after which the pregnant woman wakes up in the active phase of contractions.

Pregnancy is probably the happiest period in the life of every woman. At this time, she gets acquainted not only with new sensations, but also with basic medical concepts. For example, in the last weeks of pregnancy, every woman has to deal with training contractions, which are called Braxton-Hicks contractions. They got this name due to the fact that the first doctor who described them was John Braxton-Hicks from England. And since the 19th century, when they first became known, they bear his name.

What are these fights? Such contractions occur when the uterus begins to prepare for childbirth. Of course, there are exceptions and such contractions are not observed in the expectant mother, but most women still experience these harbingers.

As your tummy grows, so does your baby. And the less time remains for the long-awaited meeting, the more often thoughts about the upcoming birth arise. Especially if the pregnancy is the first, then there are several times more emotions. And yet, when there are only a few weeks left before the birth, women begin to catch every change in their body and with every new sensation they are ready to say that they have started giving birth.

But those who have already given birth begin to tell that the beginning of childbirth is simply impossible to miss and when the contractions begin, the pregnant woman will immediately understand everything. But despite this, women quite often come to the maternity hospital much earlier than the allotted time. And such situations mainly occur due to training fights.

When do practice bouts start?

The first training bouts can begin after 20 weeks, but do not be afraid that something is wrong. This is a completely correct process and an integral part of pregnancy. After all, they are just training. During such contractions, a significant tension in the muscles of the uterus is felt with some frequency. They are very similar to short attacks lasting 30-60 seconds. Such contractions are almost painless and do not cause discomfort. In addition, they differ from real ones in irregularity, pain exclusively in the lower abdomen and disappear over time.

Only a few know that the uterus trains and prepares for childbirth throughout pregnancy. Just on early dates these contractions are not felt at all. But after 20 weeks you can clearly feel them. They look like mild spasms and at the same time the uterus becomes very hard. Quite often, it is precisely such sensations that a woman confuses with the real onset of labor and begins to run to the hospital.

How to recognize training contractions

The main difference between these fights is regularity. If during real contractions the intervals between them are equal and gradually decrease, and the pain increases in the meantime, then this is not the case with training. When the uterus is exercising, a woman may feel several contractions, which are completely mild and do not bring much discomfort. They can go through different intervals of time, or they can go through the same, but then they will calm down.

Most often, such contractions are clearly audible in the evening or at night. When the body is completely relaxed, a woman can hear slight tensions and contractions of the uterus without making an effort.

It is also worth considering that real contractions can be accompanied by cramps, lack of appetite, or even diarrhea. Read more about the differences between training and real fights.

How long do practice bouts last?

The fact that it’s too early to get ready for the maternity hospital can also be understood by how long the contractions last. Training contractions can last from a few seconds to two minutes. It is important to remember that the closer the birth, the more often such contractions can occur and at the same time their duration will not increase.

It is also worth considering that some women do not pay attention to uterine contractions at all the way they feel them. But if all the same training bouts are very unpleasant for you, then you need to do something to distract yourself from unpleasant emotions and sensations. And by the time they start you need to learn to understand your body. This will help a lot not only during pregnancy, but also during childbirth.

To count the number of contractions, their duration and frequency, you can use our program WE COUNT BREAKS, which will help you decide when you need to go to the hospital.

What to do during training bouts?

First of all, you don't have to worry. It should be remembered that the closer to childbirth, the more intense they can become. But when they are accompanied by lower back pain, vaginal discharge appears, and the number of contractions exceeds four per hour - this means that you can safely pack up and go to the hospital.

There are several reasons why practice contractions may start. For example, big exercise stress, activity of the child and stressful situation for mother. There are times when Braxton-Hicks contractions can start even with a light touch on the abdomen. Knowing about the reasons that cause such contractions, you can easily avoid them. Some doctors believe that this is a necessary process that prepares a woman for childbirth, but there are those who claim that contractions are caused by the maturation of the uterus.

At the first occurrence of training fights, it is necessary to breathe correctly. There are several ways to properly breathe during contractions. Such knowledge may well come in handy at the very birth.

The first method is called economical breathing. This is when the maximum deep breath and very slow exhalation.
The second way is to breathe like a dog: intermittent and very frequent breathing. Most in an efficient way there is breathing when you inhale slowly through your nose and exhale sharply through your mouth.

Also, to know breathing exercises, the expectant mother must definitely control what she does and try to avoid any actions that cause training contractions. In most cases, these contractions do not bring any threat to either the baby or the mother. But there are times when the help of a specialist is simply a necessity.

It is better to hurry to the doctor if during Braxton-Hicks contractions appear bloody issues, water breaks or back pain appears, and the child stops moving. But in most cases, such symptoms can occur only at rather late stages of pregnancy and can end either with premature birth or with the observation of a pregnant woman in a hospital until the fetus is fully mature.

It is very rare that training contractions cause pregnancy complications. To a greater extent, everything ends relatively well for both the woman in labor and the newborn.

But be that as it may, you must remain calm and understand that training bouts are designed to prepare you and the whole body for the complex changes that will occur in it and for very hard physical work, which will surely end in joy.

A rare pregnant woman has not heard that there are false contractions. It happens to everyone, so the uterus “trains” before childbirth, they are also called “training”. But it happens that a woman does not feel them at all. Therefore, neither the presence nor absence of this phenomenon indicates any disturbance.

Symptoms of false before childbirth Future mom
contractions clothing pain
monitoring pregnant pain

What is it and why is it necessary

The phenomenon of fake contractions has long been known. One of its names is given by the name of the doctor who first described it. It happened in 1872, made by the British John Braxton Hicks. They speak differently:

Braxton Hicks cuts;
harbingers or harbingers;
training;
braxtons;

Primiparous women usually feel this from the second trimester, multiparous women earlier. Some note the appearance in recent weeks, others do not notice them at all. Abroad, the phenomenon is usually not given any importance, explaining to the woman what is happening as necessary. In Russia, false contractions during pregnancy can be referred to as increased uterine tone and put in the hospital to "preserve".

Increased tone of the uterus

The muscles of the uterus react to the hormonal background of the pregnant organism, sometimes the phenomenon is given the importance of preparing smooth uterine muscles for future childbirth. Compare it with sports training. This happens to all pregnant women. But the most sensitive of them find false contractions in themselves, others simply do not notice contractions, except perhaps before the very birth.

This is manifested by the following symptoms.

Spontaneous, non-periodic tension of the uterus.
It can happen several times, for several days in a row.
There is usually no pain.
For many women, false contractions cause uncomfortable sensations of a "hardening", "stiffening" uterus.
Duration - from a few seconds, but no more than two minutes.
The strength and number of contractions usually increase with gestational age.
The cervix does not dilate.

Different women may have different symptoms of training contractions. This is especially true for their expression. It happens that even some soreness appears, which grows closer to childbirth. If there are no warning signs, do not worry.

The contractions occur involuntarily, but some causes have been observed that cause signs of training contractions. Some of them can be eliminated, which will reduce the number and duration of spasms. These are the factors:

too high or, conversely, insufficient physical activity of the mother;
increased fetal activity;
strong emotions - positive or negative;
lack of water;
overfilled bladder;
sexual intercourse;
even a touch on the stomach.

Shortly before childbirth, false contractions are even useful. They help soften the cervix, shorten it. Thanks to this, the opening process will be easier and faster.

Training exercises before childbirth

Differences between false and "true" manifestations

It is quite understandable that for the first time such a phenomenon is alarming. Therefore, you need to know how to distinguish training contractions from generic, or real ones. To do this, take into account their duration, frequency, frequency, intensity, the place where the contraction is felt.

sign	During training	At birth
duration	last a few seconds, no more than 120	gradually increases
frequency	from once a day to four or five per hour	more than five per hour
periodicity	disorderly	regular, the interval between contractions decreases
intensity	decreasing rapidly	constantly growing
soreness	during pregnancy, there is usually no pain from training contractions	usually there
place	usually felt in one place, any	spasm starts from the back, flowing to the whole stomach
other signs	usually absent	the cork leaves, water pours out, the cervix opens

Knowing how to distinguish false contractions from real ones, a woman avoids unnecessary worries and trips to the doctor. But for your own peace of mind, it’s better to check it out once again, to discuss this condition. Repeated uterine "training" will already be quite predictable, expected and not so scary.

Each woman experiences the symptoms of harbingers in her own way. The strength of these sensations is different, the time of their onset too. Some notice spasms as early as the sixth week, others just before childbirth. Most often, pregnant women describe their impressions as follows.

It happens more often in the morning or in the evening.
Suddenly, the stomach tightens sharply, usually it is felt even with the palm of your hand, if you apply it below or above the navel.
During training contractions, it is uncomfortable to move for as long as they last.
If you change your position, stand up or, conversely, lie down, the spasm quickly passes.

There are ways to relieve spasms, you can train labor breathing during them. Immediate action requires the appearance of additional alarming symptoms.

Proper behavior of a pregnant woman

Trial contractions differ from real contractions in that they pass quickly. There are ways to speed up this process.

Eliminate as much as possible the causes that cause uterine contractions.
Drink a glass or more of liquid, consume at least one and a half liters a day. You can have a snack.
What a simple way, like changing the position of the body, will help to distinguish contractions from forerunners. If the woman was lying, you need to get up and take a walk, and vice versa. A light massage helps.
Warm water soothes the muscles, a shower or bath will help.
If emotions are the cause, you can be distracted, listen to music, just close your eyes.

You can benefit from false contractions, which will come in handy when labor begins. During them, they do breathing exercises. They will soften the spasm, ensure the flow of oxygen through the placenta.

When the muscles tighten, you need to slowly exhale the air. Then take a good deep breath.
When it starts to catch, often shallow breathe. This exercise is done no longer than three to four minutes, so as not to get dizzy.
Inhale deeply through your nose, hold your breath. Then quickly and sharply release the air through the mouth.

The intensity of training contractions increases at the 38th week of pregnancy. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand that this is not childbirth yet. Then it is better to see a doctor. A gynecological examination will reveal whether the cervix is opening, and will dispel all doubts.

Expectant mother is resting

Additional signs will tell you that the process has really begun. Distinguish labor pains from fake such additional signs as:

departed waters;
mucous-bloody discharge;
severe back pain from the lower back and below.

This happens already in the last weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes in the later stages, it is possible to distinguish real contractions from fake ones only on such a basis as a stable increase in frequency and intensity. Everything else - water, pain - will appear much later.

But there are symptoms in which you need to urgently go to the doctor. The fact that these are not false contractions, but signs of premature birth, no matter how many days before them, is indicated by the following symptoms:

discharge with blood (placental abruption is possible);
mucous or watery discharge;
severe pain;
decrease in fetal activity;
feeling of pressure in the groin;
contractions that recur more than four times a minute.

So, there is no consensus about this phenomenon among doctors. Either this is prenatal training, or just a natural process caused by changes. hormonal background. False contractions do no harm, you can even benefit from them. But you still need to carefully monitor other symptoms.

Thanks 2

You will be interested in these articles:

Pregnancy is a time of happiness and expectation, which are gradually replaced by light experiences. Not all women can calmly endure the hardships of the last month, the stomach is growing, and the days are drawing closer to the long-awaited moment. Mom with trepidation treats every extra movement of the baby, a new sensation, in anticipation of the onset of contractions, the thought of how the birth will go does not cease to leave.

What are training bouts about?

It was intended by nature for the child to grow up without lack of nutrients, and to be protected in every possible way in the mother's stomach. But nature has not forgotten about Mommy herself, nature gives the first reminders of itself when training bouts begin. During the entire pregnancy, there is a slight exercise of the muscles of the uterus. As a result, it becomes more elastic by the end of pregnancy, the cervix shortens to allow the baby to be born easily.

Training, false or Breston Hicks contractions, all this is one concept, which implies a contraction of the walls of the uterus for a short period of time, usually they last no more than two minutes. Oddly enough, but such training begins with the onset of the 20th week of pregnancy. Almost no one feels any contractions at this time, since the tummy is very small, and the processes taking place there go unnoticed.

In the later stages of pregnancy, a woman begins to feel some discomfort and an unpleasant feeling in the lower abdomen - this can alert a young mother. The uterus becomes elastic, acquires an increased tone, a pulling sensation appears in the lower back, the stomach becomes hard. But this phenomenon does not last long, and after two minutes the pain goes away.

How to behave during this time

An interesting fact is that not all women feel these contractions, it all depends on the level of the pain threshold. Someone feels them until the 20th week, and someone did not understand that she had training contractions. But still, most pregnant women know firsthand about false contractions, and this can greatly disturb them.

Note! If training your uterus is uncomfortable and uncomfortable for you, doctors advise changing the environment and taking a walk in the fresh air. When such contractions catch you while doing work, do the opposite - lie down and rest a bit. It will be very useful if the future dad does a light back massage - this will help to relax and forget about discomfort.

When training contractions are perceived as a proper change in body sensations and do not cause unnecessary emotions, mommy can use such moments to prepare for the upcoming birth. Namely, having felt that training is coming again, try to relax as much as possible and establish proper breathing, such preparations will be simply invaluable in the upcoming labor pains.

Note! In the event of training contractions at night, get out of bed, take a walk, you can take a warm shower, but in no case hot, after a shower, brew a soothing herbal, or green tea. If after that insomnia sets in, do not force yourself to fall asleep, just turn on pleasant music and listen through headphones so as not to disturb anyone, or read a book.

When the workout comes to an end

In the last two weeks of pregnancy from training contractions, the pain gradually moves to the lower abdomen, and the sensations become more unpleasant. The closer the time to give birth comes, the more often training contractions come, those women who are used to feeling them throughout pregnancy may no longer pay special attention to training waiting for them. But you should not overdo it with your patience, you can miss an important time when real labor pains approach.

Note! False contractions pass after 2-3 minutes, and if they repeat, then in different time without a constant frequency, and the pain will not be very noticeable. As a rule, the uterus spends training in the evening or at night, when your body is as relaxed as possible, and nothing distracts your attention. As for the arrival of real contractions, the woman will feel all their strength on herself. The onset period can be checked against the clock.

Do not confuse with real childbirth

At first, the contractions will begin four times in one hour, as a rule, they are accompanied by girdle pain throughout the back and abdomen, there may be different kind discharge, muscle cramps or diarrhea. All these symptoms directly indicate labor activity, if you are at home at this time, dial the ambulance number, since no one is immune from the fact that childbirth can be quite fast, and the consequences are not very good.

Because of the fear of the onset of real contractions, many women confuse them with training ones and start sounding the alarm too early. Just listen carefully to your body, mentally list for yourself what you really feel, discard all fears of anxiety, try to relax, and nature itself will take care of informing you about real contractions on the eve of childbirth.

Video

How to behave during the harbingers of childbirth: