What Do Contractions Feel Like? What You NEED to Know!

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What Do Contractions Feel Like? What You Need to Know: https://www.mamanatural.com/what-do-c...

What are contractions?
When you have a contraction, your uterus tightens or contracts and then releases and relaxes. It’s similar to how you’d flex your bicep and then relax. (The uterus, after all, is a muscle!)
However, at 9 months of pregnancy, the uterus is the LARGEST muscle in a woman’s body, which can make a contraction feel very intense.
Contractions are your body’s way of preparing for the birth of your baby, and they will help you push your baby out.
However, there is a big difference between “practice contractions” and true labor contractions.
Similarly, every mom experiences contractions a little bit differently, so describing what they feel like is challenging. Subsequent births are generally much quicker than first labors as well.

What do contractions feel like?
Contractions can feel like a very strong menstrual cramp or tightening in your lower abdomen.
As your labor progresses, your contractions will get stronger and more intense.
Once you’re fully dilated and your baby starts to descend into your pelvis, you’ll feel more pressure in your lower pelvis, vagina, and anus.
Some moms compare this sensation of labor like having to do a ginormous bowel movement, which makes sense because the same muscles used to push out stool are used in to push out baby.
Like pregnancy itself, each labor experience looks different. The surest sign that you’re experiencing TRUE labor contractions is that they regularly increase in intensity and frequency.

Okay, before we go further, let’s talk about two types of “practice” contractions that are not “REAL” labor contractions.

The first is Prodromal contractions. These can happen in the last month of pregnancy, and they can FEEL like labor contractions, but they don’t increase in frequency or intensity. They might get closer together or a bit stronger throughout the day, but they’re rarely ever within five minutes of each other and don’t progress into real labor.

The other form of practice contractions are called Braxton Hicks. Braxton-Hicks contractions can feel tight and uncomfortable, but they’re usually not intense or regular.

Most midwives and doctors believe that these practice contractions are simply your uterus’ way of toning itself for delivery and promoting blood flow to the placenta

Okay, back to true labor contractions.

Although you’ll always be on the lookout for signs of labor toward the end of your pregnancy, TIMING your contractions is the best way to ensure that they’re true labor contractions and not a false alarm.

If you think your labor may be starting, pay attention to the FREQUENCY and INTENSITY of your contractions.

If your contractions start to come on a regular basis, start timing them. I bet you’ve got a timer app on your phone already, but if not just browse the app store and find one with good reviews.

When should you call your doula?

Call your doula as soon as your contractions become regular. She may not come to your home right away, but she will definitely want to be aware of the situation. Plus she can provide excellent advice over the phone.

When should you go to the birth center or hospital?

Your doula can be a great resource to help you understand when it’s ideal to head to the birth center. But, as a general guideline, follow the 4-1-1 rule of labor.

This is when your contractions are

4 minutes apart
1 minute in length (at least)
And have been that way for 1 hour

When that’s the case, it’s usually time to head to the birth center!
It’s important to note that second (or any subsequent) births can move quickly. If you’ve delivered before, consider heading to the birthing center or hospital when contractions are 5 to 7 minutes apart. If the contractions are quickly becoming closer and stronger, just start heading in—you don’t necessarily need to wait the full hour.

How long do contractions last?
Once you start having regular contractions, they’ll continue to progress in frequency and intensity until you deliver your baby. The following gives an idea of the timing and stages of labor you’ll experience:

If you’re looking for a timeline, here’s a rough breakdown.

Early labor usually lasts around 8-12 hours (less for subsequent pregnancies), with the contractions coming every 5-30 minutes and lasting about 30 seconds.
Active labor generally lasts for about 2-3.5 hours, with your contractions coming every 3-4 minutes and lasting almost a minute.
Transition is the shortest, but also the most intense part of labor, lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. The contractions will come quickly and last from 60-90 seconds as your cervix dilates to 10 cm for delivery.