False (training) contractions. Symptoms of false contractions during pregnancy in the last weeks How to recognize training contractions

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 to 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, its upper part (bottom) also falls, which relieves the pressure of the uterus on the chest and abdominal cavities. 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. From the early stages of pregnancy, the cervical glands begin to produce a thick secret that fills the 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, the production of estrogens in the woman's body 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 mentioned, 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 pass almost imperceptibly. The characteristic features of training fights 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 can feel the hardening of the uterus herself 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:

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, it is enough to drink a glass of plain water to relieve them. 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 you need to urgently call an 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".

Causes

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) are prescribed and the cervix is ​​prepared (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.

The more your tummy grows and the more active the baby makes itself felt, the more often you think about how the birth will go. Without exception, all pregnant women ask this question, no matter what kind of pregnancy it is. And if you become a mother for the first time, then the more you are concerned about the upcoming birth. And with the approach of the expected date, every strange or suspicious sensation is ready to be considered as “everything has begun! ..”.

Women who have given birth tell their young friends that the onset of childbirth cannot be missed or confused with something: they say, when they start, you will definitely understand that the process has started. However, many expectant mothers arrive at the maternity hospital ahead of time. And all because of false contractions.

When do practice bouts start?

It turns out that the uterus of a pregnant woman is tense throughout pregnancy. There is a theory that in this way she is preparing for the upcoming birth. In the short term, women do not feel these workouts, but after 20 weeks, many experience so-called training contractions, describing their sensations as tension or spasms in the uterus, in which the stomach hardens for a while. She seems to petrify, and then returns to normal again.

Such sensations are often confused with real contractions that have begun.

How to distinguish practice contractions from real ones

“Unreal” contractions are called so - false or training, and by the name of the doctor who first described this phenomenon, they are also called Braxton Hicks contractions. But it's not a fight yet. And so that you are calm, learn to distinguish them from the real ones.

If labor is in fact already beginning, then you will certainly feel regular contractions, repeating at the same time interval and gradually becoming more intense, prolonged and painful. Training contractions are non-cyclical, do not cause pain. They are felt mainly in the evening and at night, because it is during these hours that a woman relaxes as much as possible, the daily bustle recedes into the past, a pregnant woman listens more closely to her body and, without even focusing on her own well-being, rather feels various changes.

In addition, real contractions may be accompanied by cramps or diarrhea: the addition of any of these symptoms will help you understand that labor is really starting.

How long do practice bouts last?

The fact that the alarm turned out to be false will also tell the duration of the attacks. Training bouts last for a short time - from a few seconds to 2 minutes.

It is noteworthy that with an increase in the term and with the approach of childbirth, false contractions may appear more often, but their duration normally never increases. Moreover, it is not at all necessary to feel these uterine contractions: many women do not feel them at all.

If training contractions give you some discomfort, try to distract yourself somehow. Rest can help you, or vice versa - unhurried. Already now, learn to breathe and relax correctly - this will be very useful in childbirth. Listen to your body, try to understand and feel it.

Should I be worried?

Be prepared for the fact that closer to childbirth, false contractions can “fall” lower into the pelvis and become more intense - which means you will give birth within 2-4 weeks. Take training bouts calmly, do not dwell on them. But if they are accompanied by suspicious symptoms, it is better to immediately go to the hospital:

• the uterus becomes stony for more than 2 minutes;
• contractions become regular (more than 4 times per hour);
• contractions are very painful;
• contractions are accompanied by vaginal discharge - clear or bloody;
• along with contractions, there was a pulling pain in the lower back.

If you don’t observe anything like this, then there is nothing to worry about. The only inconvenience associated with the increase in false contractions in late pregnancy is that it will become increasingly difficult for you to find a comfortable position in bed. But this is facilitated by a large tummy, and increased sensitivity and irritability, and many other factors. So we recommend that you get a lot of different pillows and rollers, so that if necessary, put them wherever you can. You should not force yourself to sleep if this is not possible. Better listen to music or read a book.

The female uterus just needs training. And if the mother hangs like a sack for 40 weeks, she will hardly be able to cope with the load during childbirth.

The purpose of training contractions during pregnancy is to prepare the cervix and uterus for childbirth.

False contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions

This phenomenon got its name for a reason. John Braxton-Hicks is a British physician who was the first to describe this process in a woman's body in 1872. Such contractions are a short-term contraction of the muscles of the uterus, observed in women with increased uterine tone.

Similar sensations appear after 20 weeks of gestation, or rather, before that, a woman simply does not feel them. Uterine hypertonicity can manifest itself within 24 hours, but during the day, due to employment, the expectant mother, as a rule, does not notice short-term contractions lasting up to 2 minutes. The number of false contractions increases with an increase in the gestation period, the duration remains unchanged.

For normal childbirth, the uterine muscles must be in good shape. During the last month of pregnancy, the cervix may open 1-4 centimeters, depending on the number of previous pregnancies. Immediately before childbirth, preterm contractions serve to soften and shorten the cervix.

Training contractions - sensations

Braxton Hicks contractions are characterized by the following symptoms:

• feeling of constriction in the lower abdomen or in the groin;
• irregular character - less than 6 cases per hour;
• sensations are concentrated in a certain area, and do not “flow” from the abdomen to the lower back, as in real contractions;
• do not cause pain and discomfort;
• gradually disappear completely.

Regarding soreness, it can be noted that with an increase in the period, the intensity of uncomfortable sensations also increases. Women with high pain sensitivity can suffer greatly from them.

If there are no contractions

Not all expectant mothers experience training contractions, and there is nothing wrong with that. In this sense, the definition of "training contractions" is not entirely appropriate, since the uterus "knows" what to do during childbirth even without preparation.

What to do and how to benefit from it?

Many expectant mothers note that false contractions appear more often if they are engaged in even the simplest physical work. According to doctors and obstetricians, even with the slightest discomfort, you should either lie down or get up and take a calm walk, changing your occupation. For severe anxiety, you can drink some water or a soothing herbal tea.

• identify by observation at what time of day and under what conditions discomfort during false contractions increases;
• an overflowing bladder can be a provoking factor;
• Orgasm can also provoke too intense training contractions, so after 38 weeks it is recommended to refrain from having sex.

To reduce discomfort, you can take the following measures:

• take a warm bath for no more than 10 minutes;
• lie down on the left side;
• take a walk in the fresh air;
• drink a glass of clean water;
• do breathing exercises;
• relax.

Breathing exercises with false contractions

Despite the fact that doctors did not agree on the advisability of such a phenomenon as training contractions in a woman's body, it was decided to use it for good. These contractions can be combined with the following breathing exercises:

1. technique of "economical breathing" - in the fight you need to take a slow exit and a full deep breath. After the fight, repeat again;
2. breathing "like a dog" - similar to the breathing of a dog in hot weather: frequent and superficial. Suitable for the fight itself. But using this technique for more than 30 seconds is not recommended, it may make you dizzy;
3. the candle technique is an alternative to the previous option. Deep and slow inhalation through the nose, then short and sharp exhalation through the mouth.

How to distinguish false contractions from generic ones?

When training contractions begin, expectant mothers are interested not only in how long they last, but also in how to distinguish them from real contractions. It is impossible to confuse them, since prenatal sensations are quite painful and intense. In general, labor pains are very individual in terms of sensations. Some compare them to very severe menstrual pain, others to the feeling of diarrhea. Here are some signs of starting labor pains:

• discomfort and dull pain in the lower abdomen, which is felt every 10 minutes or more than 5 times per hour;
• the presence of regular contractions in the lumbar region;
• increased pressure in the pelvic region or in the vagina;
• colic, which is similar to menstruation;
• bleeding;
• nausea, vomiting and diarrhea;
• the presence of liquid plentiful secretions.

When should you rush to the doctor?

False contractions are a natural process, but the following alarming symptoms should not be ignored:

• bloody or watery discharge from the vagina;
• pain in the lower back;
• the appearance of any bleeding;
• decrease in the intensity of fetal movement.

The above signs should serve as a reason for an urgent visit to the doctor: in the later stages, they may indicate the onset of labor.

The body of a woman is an amazing machine in its functionality, which nature has come up with with great care. In order for the expectant mother to be able to endure and give birth to a baby, he knows how to radically rebuild first, and then return to the state in which he was before pregnancy. Some changes a pregnant woman may not notice, some immediately catch the eye. And some can shock even those women who have always considered themselves very calm and balanced. The latter include training bouts. How long before birth do they begin, how to behave at this time and what should be done? Let's try to figure this out.

The vast majority of women in late pregnancy do not avoid the phenomenon of training contractions. How long before birth they begin, we will consider a little later. Those who are carrying their first child are very worried when they begin to feel them, they may even feel panic.

By the name it is already clear that such contractions are a common rehearsal before childbirth. They are really necessary, because preparation for childbirth should concern not only the woman and her baby, but also the organs of the reproductive system of the expectant mother. After all, the loads in this complex, but amazing process are really colossal. If not for these helper contractions, which appear at least at the twentieth week, the birth process could be unbearable for a woman.

Such a phenomenon as these contractions is nothing but the contractile movements of the uterine myometrium. The same thing happens during the gestation period, however, women in the short term of bearing a baby cannot feel such contractions and do not pay any attention to them.

In scientific circles, the contractions discussed in this article are called Braxton-Hicks contractions. It was this British gynecologist who became the first to begin to study them. It was from his lips that a convincing opinion was heard that such training is absolutely not dangerous for expectant mothers. The most important thing is that they can distinguish between training contractions (how many days before the birth they will occur, it has already been mentioned a little) from some unhealthy condition during the period of bearing the baby. And future mothers should understand this completely on their own, so that if the sensations are strange, they should immediately go to the hospital.

Recognizing contractions

In order for a woman to understand what is happening to her, you need to find out how training fights differ from real ones.

The duration of the training, which will begin for each woman at the right time, is quite small. As a rule, the duration of each such fight is from a couple of seconds to two minutes. Their length does not change with increasing gestational age. But the frequency... In other words, they can occur at any time.

The intensity of such contractions is the same each time, and they may appear at unequal intervals. Those who have already given birth probably remember that they gradually subside, and then completely disappear. The number of contractions per hour is usually no more than six.

During the training contractions that begin, the expectant mother will experience uterine tension, which will be similar to how the biceps might tense during weight lifting.

To the touch, the recovered tummy will be very hard and will give the impression that it has become pointed.

Several contractions pass during the day and the expectant mother will not experience any special pain.

Considering the causes of

Despite the serious development of medicine, the reason for the appearance of such a phenomenon as training bouts has not yet been thoroughly studied. How many before the birth they appear, we will consider a little later. Why has this reason not been explored? Yes, everything is simple: it depends on the biochemical processes that occur in the body of every pregnant woman. If the expectant mother is quite young and healthy, and her endocrine system is working normally, then false contractions will pass in her in an unobtrusive form.

Nature provides that throughout the entire period of pregnancy, the muscles of the uterus should periodically contract, because this is how it prepares for childbirth. About a couple of weeks before the birth, there are other harbingers of this process. The fetus gradually descends into the lower abdomen, preparing for its birth. The mucous plug comes off and pains appear in the lower back. At the same time, chaotic cramping pains begin. All together indicates that the female body is preparing for childbirth.

Some doctors, like Braxton-Hicks, believe that contractions are simply necessary for the body of the expectant mother, because they increase blood flow to the placenta. And this, in turn, has a positive effect on the life of the fetus, because it receives enhanced nutrition. Gradually, such contractions stretch the cervix, which prepares it for labor.

There is an opinion that if a false contraction that appeared too early, this means a violation in the work of the central nervous system. What can cause such a phenomenon? Physical activity of the expectant mother, malnutrition, numerous stresses, difficult environmental situation. But others are sure that the reason for such early contractions is the pathology of the cervix, which should ripen by the birth itself, but this happens with some difficulty.

The reasons that may contribute to the occurrence of training fights include the activity of the future newborn in the mother's tummy, stress, multiple pregnancy, neuroses, orgasms, tea-coffee-smoking-alcohol, the development of an oversized fetus, the mother's overflowing bladder, her physical activity. And yet, despite the fact that these reasons exist and there are quite a few of them, the expectant mother should try to reduce them to zero, in extreme cases - to a minimum. In this situation, the health of the unborn child is much more important than smoking a cigarette or drinking a glass of wine, even a very good one.

What is it?

It should be noted that not all expectant mothers feel training contractions, because such uterine activity indicates a sharp hormonal change in a woman's body. And in a young and healthy body, all this should go absolutely smoothly and imperceptibly.

Many mothers expect them in vain, asking the "experienced" - acquaintances and girlfriends, how long before the birth there are training contractions. If there are some violations in the organs of internal secretion, then false contractions can begin in the second half of pregnancy. And yet, the answer to the question that concerns almost all women - how many days before giving birth they can be felt, will be this: about fourteen, that is, two weeks. After all, it is during this period that the hormonal system of the future mother begins to closely “command” the biochemical reactions that will be simply necessary during labor. It happens that such harbingers appear if the baby has grown large.

If the expectant mother suffers from some health problems, and she had a history of abortions, fibroids and something like that, she should not be surprised that this kind of contraction will be expected during the bearing of the baby. You don't have to be afraid. You just need to listen carefully to everything that happens inside her. She must remember how, in fact, the process of childbirth takes place and compare it with the observed sensations. This should be enough for her so that she can determine whether she has started giving birth or is it just false contractions.

Training contractions - how long before childbirth begin and what to do?

So when can you watch the start of training bouts? As a rule, for the first time a woman can observe something similar at the twentieth week of pregnancy. But due to the fact that these contractions are still very weak and rare, only a few expectant mothers can feel it. But with an increase in the term, these contractions become more expressive. And now, with an increase in the term, pregnant women can say that they feel a certain spasm, some tension in the muscles of the rounded tummy, after which it becomes harder for a while.

Despite the fact that everyone knows about the duration of pregnancy in general - nine months, each expectant mother begins labor activity at the right time: for some - at 37, for others - at 41 weeks. With training fights, everything happens even more unexpectedly. Not only did they start at different times for different mothers, but they also proceeded completely individually. Some mothers feel them throughout the last trimester (they are both strong and weak), while others do not notice them at all.

So how long before birth do training contractions start? The earliest time they can start is the twentieth week. If the expectant mother carefully enough monitors her well-being and health, then she may well feel them, although in

during this period of pregnancy they are still weak. But the fetus is growing, so the contractions will become more intense, more painful and longer. Most expectant mothers begin to feel them quite clearly, only having reached 32-34 weeks of waiting for a stork. And in recent days they are almost the same as during childbirth. This is especially true for women who are preparing to become mothers for the first time.

It is usually believed that evening contractions are more typical for women: the body is at rest and it is much easier to “detect” them for the expectant mother. True, if she leads a fairly active lifestyle, then they can happen at any time of the day.

Define training bouts

All pregnant women experience slight discomfort, which consists in the form of a second pain. The muscles of the uterus continue to work throughout pregnancy. They normally tense up and relax. It was intended by nature that smooth muscles should perform these exercises, so that at the right time the baby could come out of the birth canal. It is for those expectant mothers whose endocrine system does not release enough of the necessary hormone that strong and frequent training takes place. In most cases, this occurs in pregnant women over the age of 30. True, they can also occur in younger women, who often experience quite serious physical or nervous stress.

Mothers who have given birth have already somehow adapted to training contractions before childbirth, so during subsequent pregnancies they behave more calmly. And women preparing to become mothers for the first time worry many times more often.

Pregnancy is a difficult and important period in the existence of the female body. During this time, women do not experience any sensations - heaviness in the abdomen, frequent urge to urinate, swelling and much more. But many of these sensations are aimed at prepare the body of the expectant mother for the upcoming birth. One of these phenomena is the so-called training or false contractions during pregnancy.

What are practice bouts

Training contractions are periodic contractions of the smooth muscles of the uterus. Their other name is braxton hicks contractions- named after the scientist who once first described this phenomenon in 1872. Training fights do not lead directly to childbirth, their purpose is prepare the birth canal to the process of giving birth.

When do practice bouts start? They usually appear later and often take women by surprise - after all, the term for childbirth is still small. And some future mothers do not encounter them at all or do not feel them or confuse them with.

The main reasons for the occurrence of training fights are as follows:

• great physical activity of the expectant mother;
• frequent touching of the stomach;
• activity of the child in the womb;
• lack of moisture in the body;
• full bladder;
• sexual intercourse;
• worries and experiences of the expectant mother.

Symptoms and sensations during practice/false contractions

Are training contractions painful? Braxton Hicks contractions are completely painless and cause almost no discomfort to the expectant mother.

What they look like and how to recognize practice fights? They are like a sharp uncomfortable compression or tension in the lower abdomen, not accompanied by pain. The lower abdomen and lower back may be slightly raised.

How long do practice bouts last? The duration of training bouts is from a few seconds to two minutes, they are repeated no more than four times per hour. They, unlike prenatal contractions, appear irregularly, most often in the evening. Such contractions usually end very quickly, but the longer the gestation period, the more discomfort they bring to the expectant mother.

Frequency of occurrence such fights in a particular woman is purely individual: the frequency varies from several times an hour to several times a day.

How to distinguish real labor pains from training

How to distinguish false contractions from real prenatal? Very simple:

• training bouts are irregular;
• the time intervals between them are not cyclical;
• false contractions are easy to stop by changing the position of the body or taking a shower;
• the cervix does not open;
• gradually such contractions disappear completely.

Labor contractions, on the contrary, are regular and repeat with equal intervals of time, which are gradually reduced. The contractions themselves become longer in time. They continue until the baby is born. Labor contractions are painful, and changing positions does not help relieve the seizures. The cervix gradually opens.

False contractions that occur after are sometimes difficult to distinguish from real ones, but obstetrician-gynecologists advise calm down and don't panic: according to statistics, a woman always herself and with an accuracy of 100% understands that childbirth begins. In multiparous women, such questions about training contractions usually do not arise.

What to do during training bouts

What should a future mother do during training contractions, especially if they interfere with her? Use the following tips:

• Change the position of the body - sit down, turn to God, lie on your back. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable.
• Walk a little along the street or house, move smoothly and slowly.
• Taking a warm shower is a great way to stop training contractions.
• Go to the toilet, empty your bladder.
• Drink non-carbonated water, fruit drinks.
• Take a break from contractions - take up a hobby, listen to music or read.
• Try to just ignore the false contractions.

By the way, you can use the phenomenon of false contractions to train before a real birth - do breathing exercises. To breathe correctly during childbirth, expectant mothers are taught in the lessons of preparation for childbirth. And training contractions will help you learn how to breathe without leaving your home.

Do the following breathing exercises:

• Blow out the candles - inhale deeply through your nose and then exhale through your mouth. Inhale slowly and exhale sharply and quickly.
• Breathe like a dog - shallow quick breaths in and out during a fight. Breathing in this way is not worth more than 30 seconds, so that dizziness does not begin.
• Save your breath - during the contraction, exhale slowly, and then take a deep full breath. then, after the end of the bout, the exercise is repeated.

When should you see a doctor?

In the event of the usual training bouts, you should not panic and run to the doctor, but you should consult a specialist