False labor 29 weeks. Frequent mood swings. Video on how to distinguish false contractions from real ones

29.07.2019

False contractions of Braxton Hicks - how to understand that it is them and calm down? Some women feel this type of uterine contractile work already from 20 weeks of pregnancy. And most Russian doctors, hearing about such symptoms, call this problem uterine hypertonicity. How to distinguish false contractions from real labor, which can lead to premature or urgent labor?

To begin with, false or training contractions of the uterus are just a little unpleasant, but not painful and safe for the cervix. However, it is frightening if the gestation is less than 36-38 weeks. If you feel false contractions or hypertonicity of the uterus, and it happens quite often, and before childbirth another 2 or more months, it is advisable to do an ultrasound of the cervix. The doctor will look at how long it is, whether the internal pharynx is closed, so the likelihood of premature birth can be assumed. Although the difference between false contractions and real ones is that the first ones are practically harmless for pregnancy, but in the case of a “weak” cervix, doctors will probably prescribe tocolytics so that the uterus is relaxed for the maximum amount of time, and no further opening or reduction of the length of the cervix occurs. One of the most common means for this is "Utrozhestan" in the form of capsules that are used vaginally. Also, a woman can be prescribed "Ginipral" in the form of tablets for oral administration. And if the gestation period is 30 weeks or less, install a pessary ring on the cervix, which will relieve it and prevent premature birth.

A doctor can determine whether it is false or real. For long periods of time, a gynecological examination is usually enough for this. The doctor assesses how dense the cervix is, whether it is smoothed, whether there is an internal opening. For short periods, false precursor contractions are determined by ultrasound of the cervix. If it does not contract, uterine hypertonicity is considered absolutely normal. After all, the uterus is a muscular organ and can react to any impact - palpation or active movements within the fetus.

It is also women who are able to distinguish between training and birth contractions. The former are not regular, not intense, and end quickly. Not all women have them, but usually they quickly get used to them and stop worrying. But the uterus in good shape before childbirth, shortly or after the expected date of birth of the child, may be a harbinger of the onset of labor. More precisely, this can be determined on the CTG. Training contractions during pregnancy for a long time often turn into true ones. Regularity appears, their intensity and soreness increase. Usually, women recognize labor pains almost immediately, even if they have never given birth before.

There are also signs that distinguish false from real contractions. If your uterus is suddenly petrified while you are lying down, try to get up and walk, for sure the pain will go away immediately. If you are sitting and have muscle cramps from time to time, try taking a bath. It is absolutely safe if the water in it is warm, not hot, and you do not have bloody, mucous vaginal discharge or suspicion of amniotic fluid discharge.
You can also significantly improve your well-being if you just take "No-shpa" or insert rectally the suppository "Papaverine hydrochloride". After 40 minutes, your uterus will relax.
False contractions never interfere with sleep. If you are worried, you can just take 1-2 tablets of valerian and that will be enough.
It should be borne in mind that with each week of pregnancy, the preparatory contractions are becoming more frequent and intense. If they bother you, tell your doctor about them. He may prescribe a magnesium medication to gently relieve cramping.

How to understand that false contractions have begun, when to wait after that? This phenomenon is the preparation of the uterus for future delivery. The so-called Braxton Higgs contractions appear in some women very early, as early as 20 weeks. And many doctors regard this as a threat of late miscarriage. In fact, this does not provoke the threat of spontaneous abortion. Maybe a little unpleasant. A woman feels how her uterus periodically becomes hard, there may be minor pulling pains. But all this is not so often in the short term. Is it possible to assume, if false contractions have begun, when the woman will start giving birth?

To make any assumptions, you need to know the gestational age. If it is 38 weeks or more, then the answer is obvious - very soon. Usually, if false contractions appear, then even before labor begins, their harbingers appear. These include:

discharge of the mucous plug from the cervical canal, where this mucus performs a protective function, serves as a barrier to prevent various infectious pathogens from entering the uterus, and frequent false or training contractions sometimes contribute to its relatively early discharge - a week or more before the onset of labor;
the level of the uterus becomes lower, visually the stomach drops, this is due to the fact that the child drops lower into the pelvis, closer to the exit;
weight decreases slightly, most women quickly gain weight in the last weeks of pregnancy, but mainly due to fluid retention in the body, and closer to childbirth, this excess fluid comes out, and the weight, accordingly, decreases;
and if false contractions a few days before childbirth may directly appear, then a day or even less before the start of this labor activity, the woman's body is "cleansed", she may have repeated bowel movements, frequent urination is observed without signs of an inflammatory disease of the genitourinary system, less often vomiting;
pain, a feeling of fullness in the perineum, if this symptom appeared along with uterine spasms, then this is one of the ways how to distinguish false contractions from birth, since these sensations very often appear in the first stage of labor.

Directly a woman whose uterus is excitable, that is, prone to come into a state of hypertonicity at the slightest impact, will probably be able to distinguish real labor contractions from this very notorious tone. There is no single correct answer for how many days before childbirth false contractions begin, although primiparous preparations for childbirth begin earlier than multiparous ones. But they have a difference from real fights - it is their regularity. If they have already begun, they will not stop and will only intensify, despite the measures taken in the form of taking antispasmodics, a warm bath, a walk, etc.

And yet, how long do false contractions last before childbirth, what can you be prepared for? Non-intense ones can last the entire third trimester, but towards the end they gain strength. It is possible to diagnose real contractions, strong contractions of the myometrium, which even the expectant mother herself may not pay attention to, using CTG. This is a fairly accurate research method that allows you to obtain reliable information not only about uterine contractions at the moment, but also about the state of the fetus, which is even more important. On CTG, you can diagnose hypoxia - lack of oxygen. It is most informative to do the research in the morning when most children are active.

Dynamic observation of a woman is also used to determine contractions. Contractions are characterized by significant tension in the uterus. The cervix reacts to it. At first it smoothes out, and then begins to unfold. And the more intense the contractions, the faster the birth process proceeds. Usually, in multiparous women, both false and labor pains take shorter intervals, and lead to childbirth faster.

In the process of carrying a child, a woman experiences a whole life, when the body is rebuilt, habits change, new sensations arise almost every day. And at a certain moment, when childbirth is just around the corner, false contractions appear. How to distinguish them from the true ones? What measures will help relieve pain? When should you see a doctor?

False contractions - what is it

The term "false contractions" in medical science means irregular rhythmic contractions of the muscular walls of the uterus, designed to prepare the reproductive organs for childbirth. In the course of such "training", the muscles of the uterus and cervix become more resilient in order to actively contract in the future and push the child along the birth canal.
The muscles of the uterus are trained before childbirth to contract and push the fetus along the birth canal at the right time

Training contractions (also called Braxton-Hicks contractions - that was the name of the British doctor who was the first to substantiate this phenomenon), in addition, improve the blood supply to the reproductive organs, thereby increasing the supply of oxygen to the fetus.

Interestingly, not all doctors are of the same opinion about the purpose of false contractions. For example, some believe that this is just a reaction of the pregnant woman's body to hormonal fluctuations, and not at all preparation for labor.

Not all pregnant women feel the contractions of Braxton Hicks, especially in primiparas. Much depends on the individual characteristics of the organism (high or low pain threshold), provoking factors. Nevertheless, such reductions occur in every expectant mother, but they can simply not be noticed (for example, due to being busy with work, household chores), confused with increased gas formation and other phenomena.

Causes of training contractions

There are a number of factors that can provoke training contractions or increase the intensity of existing ones:

Active movement of the fetus (overturning, tremors).
The activity of the expectant mother herself, for example, physical activity.
Emotional shocks: fear, stress, or, conversely, joy. Sensitive persons are more susceptible to this.
Sexual intercourse accompanied by female orgasm.
Eating heavy and fatty foods that cause a feeling of heaviness in the digestive tract, carbonated drinks, overeating, or, conversely, severe hunger, dehydration.
Inability to go to the toilet in a timely manner. This can cause discomfort in the bladder and rectum, causing false contractions.

In some cases, false contractions can occur even if you put your hand on your stomach, your own or someone else's.

Photo gallery: factors provoking Braxton-Hicks contractions

Sex with a violent female orgasm can provoke training contractions One of the reasons for false contractions is the use of fatty heavy foods, carbonated drinks, or hunger Emotional experiences can cause false contractions False contractions can provoke active fetal movements

How to differentiate between false and labor pains

While some pregnant women experience mild discomfort during Braxton Hicks contractions, others experience quite severe pain. During seizures, expectant mothers are confused: they take this phenomenon for incipient childbirth and are in a hurry to get ready for the hospital (especially if the period is already decent). Therefore, it is important to learn the signs that distinguish training fights from true ones.

Table: differences between false and true fights

Difference criteria	False contractions	True
Periodicity	They are recorded from time to time, without a specific interval.	The attacks of contractions are regular, repeated after a certain period of time, gradually becoming more frequent and more prolonged.
Increased pain intensity	The intensity of the pain does not increase, on the contrary, it gradually decreases.	Each next fight is stronger than the previous one.
Is it possible to reduce the intensity of pain	The pain decreases with a change in activity, rest, etc.	Changes in body position or type of activity do not in the least affect the intensity of the attack.
Localization of pain	The pain is fixed in the abdomen, pelvic area.	The pain radiates to the back and lower back, lower abdomen, sides and hips, rectum and bladder.

One of the main differences between true fights is their frequency.

False contractions have absolutely nothing to do with childbirth, do not signal the beginning of this process. The attacks are not accompanied by the opening of the cervix (only a gynecologist can testify to this during examination).

Video: the difference between false and true contractions (fragment of the webinar "Preparing for childbirth" of the Academy of Motherhood)

Normal Pregnant Feelings During Braxton Hicks Contractions

It is possible to recognize the beginning of the training contractions of a pregnant woman by the characteristic symptoms:

In a certain part of the abdomen, pronounced pain appears - as if someone were squeezing the uterus strongly. Pulling pains of varying intensity appear (as a rule, they do not cause severe discomfort).
In one hour, this sensation can be repeated several times, and then disappear for several days. Some have seizures from time to time throughout the day.
Attacks occur suddenly, do not have a certain rhythm and cyclicality. However, most often they are fixed in the evening or at night, when the rest of the muscles of the body are relaxed (at this time of day, the tone of the uterus is simply easier to notice).
The contractions stop by themselves or together with a change in body position, movement, etc.

Often false contractions make themselves felt in the evening and at night, when the rest of the muscles of the body are relaxed

As for the specific dates when a woman can expect training fights, here again everything is individual. However, this usually happens no earlier than 20 weeks. Many pregnant women experience seizures only in the third trimester. Contractions at 39–40 weeks need to be assessed especially carefully, since they may be true.

Situations requiring medical attention

Despite all the harmlessness of training fights, there are situations when such "training" requires medical intervention. Pay close attention to the following signals:

The attacks are accompanied by unusual vaginal discharge: watery or bloody (possibly placental abruption begins).
Pain during contractions of the uterus is too severe, although irregular. For example, excessive pain in the lumbar region may not mean false contractions, but acute inflammatory kidney disease.
The pressure on the perineal area increases: it causes pain, discomfort.
At the same time, amniotic fluid is poured out or it leaks (a large volume of fluid comes out of the genital tract or the underwear just quickly gets wet).
The contractions are repeated too often - more than 4 times per minute (it is possible that the cervix begins to open actively).
The fetal movement has noticeably decreased: less than 10 movements are observed within two hours (this happens before childbirth).

In some cases, it is imperative to consult a doctor, for example, when there is very severe pain in the lower spine, in the lower back

All these signs are especially dangerous when it is too early for the baby to be born. After all, there is a risk of the onset of premature birth. If, at the end of the third trimester, the pregnant woman notes that the contractions are becoming too intense, frequent, fairly regular and prolonged, most likely childbirth begins and it is time to get ready for the maternity hospital.

How to relieve a woman's condition during Braxton Hicks contractions

When false contractions cause noticeable discomfort to a pregnant woman, she is quite able to alleviate her condition with simple measures:

Take a comfortable position and do what you love. Every pregnant woman can choose a position in which the discomfort will be minimal or even disappear altogether: for example, curl up on a soft sofa, covered with a blanket, or lean back on a wide armchair. At the same time, it is good to read an interesting book, watch your favorite TV series or listen to relaxing music. This helps to distract from the pain.
Drink warm tea, fruit drink or just a glass of water.
Walking with moderate physical activity.
Take a warm shower or bath.
A pleasant relaxing massage for the lower back. A caring spouse can do it.
If the contractions provoke hunger, you should eat something nutritious, but not heavy.
Breathing exercises help well. In addition to the fact that exercises facilitate the condition of the expectant mother, they increase the supply of oxygen to the fetus, serve as an excellent breathing exercise in the upcoming birth. You can try such simple options: "candle" (slow nasal inhalation and a sharp short exhalation through the mouth), "like a dog" (this is a frequent shallow breathing, similar to how dogs breathe in hot weather, but no more than 30 seconds, so as not to dizzy ), the usual slow breaths in and out (and the exhalation is done during the fight).

Photo Gallery: Measures to Help Deal with False Contractions

Moderate outdoor activity (such as picking autumn leaves) will eliminate the discomfort If the discomfort is caused by yogurt, eat something light and nutritious Breathing exercises can help relieve both false and subsequent contractions To cope with false contractions is often simple enough take a comfortable position and be distracted by your favorite activity, for example, reading a book A warm shower or bath can help relieve pain. Warm tea will help to relieve contractions, while a woman is comfortably seated in a comfortable chair or sofa. A pleasant relaxing massage will help relieve pain during false contractions

Update: October 2018

The due date is approaching and more and more questions arise from the expectant mother. Among the many exciting topics for pregnant women, the following sounds: 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 experience false contractions and, as a rule, shortly before childbirth. In addition to such fights, a number of other precursors testify to the approaching birth, which are difficult to miss.

Harbingers of childbirth

The gestation period in women lasts on average 280 days or 40 obstetric weeks. By the end of this period, in about 2 weeks, the precursors 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 pronounced, while others do not notice them at all. But childbirth rarely begins suddenly, "without warning", and the period of harbingers is laid down by nature for that, so that a woman has time to prepare and tune in to childbirth. The appearance of all precursors of childbirth is considered not at all necessary, the occurrence of one or two should already alert a woman.

False contractions

The concept of false contractions was introduced by the English physician Braxton Hicks at the end of the 19th century, therefore their other name is Braxton Hicks contractions or training. False contractions are called periodic, spontaneously arising 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.

Abdominal prolapse

The belly sinks in expectant mothers a couple of weeks before giving birth in primiparous and several 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. At the same time, its upper part (bottom) also descends, 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 is in a sitting position or it becomes more difficult to walk. Since the uterus no longer lifts the stomach, heartburn and belching disappear. But moving the uterus down 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. Also, tingling in the legs and lower back is possible. These symptoms are associated with irritation of the nerve endings located in the small pelvis when the head is inserted into its entrance.

The mucous plug comes off

This feature 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 secretion 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. The characteristic signs of its discharge are jelly-like mucous clots that are visible on the 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). A mucous plug is allocated either entirely and immediately, or in parts throughout the day. Removal of the cork is painless, but sipping pains in the lower abdomen may appear. The time taken for the cork to pass is different. It can leave both 2 weeks before the onset of labor, and immediately with the onset of contractions.

Weight loss

One to two weeks before the start of contractions, the weight of the pregnant woman is reduced (by about 500 grams - 2 kg). The effect 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 decreases, it is much easier to put on shoes and put on gloves with rings.

Urination and bowel movements change

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

Change in fetal movement

By the end of pregnancy, the expectant mother notes a decrease in the child's motor activity. 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, there are fewer of them.

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 woman's fatigue. Often, expectant mothers fall into apathy, sleepy 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, due to the training folds, blood flow to the child is increased, which contributes to his better oxygenation and nutrient saturation. It becomes clear that false contractions are absolutely normal manifestations, which should not be feared. There are a number of factors that can push the occurrence of false contractions.

Provoking factors

Training contractions occur under the following conditions:

excessive physical activity (housework, sports, prolonged standing, etc.);
taking a hot shower / bath;
increased motor activity of the fetus;
use and strong often (they 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 (pressing on the uterus, forcing it to contract);
(the volume of circulating blood decreases, the blood supply to the uterus worsens, which provokes its contractions);
improper or insufficient nutrition;
multiple births or large fetus (too tight space for the child / children, any movement of them irritates the uterine walls);
overeating or feeling hungry, consumption of "soda" (makes the stomach contract, the irritation of which is transmitted to the uterus);
touching the belly with 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 the woman is resting. These contractions do not cause pain, occur irregularly and infrequently. In addition, false contractions only prepare the cervix for disclosure, 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 often than 6 times an 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;
vivid 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 are the sensations with false contractions? In many cases, training contractions are painless, and expectant mothers tolerate them quite easily. But in the case of a low threshold of pain sensitivity, false contractions are very unpleasant and even require assistance. Feelings with false contractions resemble menstrual pain: pulling in nature 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 and false contractions

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

Sign	training	true
Significant pain sensations that intensify over time	—	+
The duration of the contraction increases	—	+
Discharge of amniotic fluid	—	+
There is no clear rhythm of uterine contractions, irregular contractions	+	—
The intensity of the contraction increases, the uterine contractions last a minute or longer	—	+
The disappearance of contractions when changing body position or physical activity	+	—
The neck gradually opens and smoothes	—	+
There is pressure in either the vagina or the pelvis	—	+
Lasts less than 2 hours, and less than 4 uterine contractions occur in an hour	+	—

How to deal with false contractions

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

stroll

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 get up and take a few steps, or sit down with a long standing.

Get distracted

Watching your favorite movie, listening to calm music or reading a book can help you distract and relax.

Warm water

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

Correct breathing

The occurrence of false contractions is an excellent moment for training correct breathing in labor, which was taught in the classroom at school for mothers. Take deep breaths through your nose, trying to exhale slowly and smoothly through your mouth, and curl your lips together. You can try dog-like breathing - intermittent and frequent, but not get carried away, otherwise your head will spin.

Drink water or a snack

If false contractions are due to dehydration, drinking a glass of plain water is enough to relieve them. In case of hunger, even a lung that provoked uterine contractions, you should have a snack, but easily digestible and nutritious (for example, a banana).

When to call an ambulance

Sometimes situations arise 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 (suspected placental abruption);
the appearance of watery discharge (possible rupture of amniotic fluid);
discharge of the mucous plug before 36 weeks;
pressing pain 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 labor act).

Preliminary period - what does this mean? The preparatory period is called the period of time during which the woman's body is prepared for childbirth. That is, the preliminary period can be called the preparatory period, during which the precursors 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;
perhaps the spontaneous disappearance of contractions and their reappearance after 24 hours;
sleep and general well-being of the pregnant woman is satisfactory;
complete readiness of the expectant mother for childbirth is noted ("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 an adequate labor activity.

Pathological preliminary period

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

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, and more);
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 birth in women under 17 and over 30;
little and;
incorrect position of the fetus and placenta;
and so on.

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. Contractions are irregular and do not turn into true ones for a long time. The pathological preliminary period can last 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 "mature". It is long, located anteriorly or posteriorly, dense, and the outer and inner 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 hypertonicity of the uterus 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 outpouring of water and. Due to the expenditure of energy, this pathology often turns into a weakness of the birth forces.

Often there are autonomic disorders (neurocirculatory dystonia, increased sweating), a woman complains of pain in the lumbar and sacral regions, palpitations and shortness of breath, painful movement of the baby.

Question answer

Question:
I have my first birth 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: in case of any doubt about false contractions, especially if they are painful and last a minute or more, you should go to the hospital. The obstetrician will conduct an internal vaginal examination and assess 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 to 3 days.

Question:
When I gave birth for the first time, the doctors told me about some wrong 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 a repetition of this situation in the second birth?

In the first birth, you had a pathological preliminary period. The likelihood of developing it in the second birth depends on many reasons, but primarily on the mood for the successful completion of labor. Attend mothers school, engage in 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 precursors of childbirth. What to do?

You may be overweight. To stimulate labor, use natural methods (long walks, sex, certain meals, etc.).

Question:
How is the pathological preliminary period treated?

The tactics of managing a woman depends on the duration of the pathological preparatory period, the state of the neck, the intensity of pain, the state of the mother and child. With a "mature" neck and the duration of this pathology less than 6 hours, the fetal bladder is opened to stimulate contractions. If the cervix is \u200b\u200b"immature", but this period lasts 6 or less hours, sedatives (Relanium) are prescribed and the cervix is \u200b\u200bprepared (intracervical prepidil-gel). In the case of a protracted course (more than 10 hours) of the pathological preparatory period, a drug-induced sleep-rest is prescribed, after which the pregnant woman wakes up in the active phase of contractions.

False contractions are also called training contractions, or (after the doctor who first described them) Braxton Hicks contractions. These are contractions of the smooth muscles of the uterus, which do not lead to the opening of the cervix, and hence to childbirth.

Some pregnant women do not feel them at all, but most experience training contractions from around the 20th week of pregnancy. In fact, false contractions occur at an earlier date, the woman simply does not identify them. It should be noted that neither the presence or absence of false contractions does not indicate any pathologies during pregnancy.

False contractions are not the most pleasant sensations. Many women sometimes do not even suspect how false contractions go, because they very little feel them. Others are worried about how to recognize contractions from false ones, because training contractions bring quite strong discomfort and are frightening in their intensity.

The main signs of false contractions are their irregularity, short duration and relative painlessness. The difference between false contractions and real contractions lies in the fact that real contractions are so painful that it is difficult to confuse them with anything else.

To stay calm and be able to turn the unpleasant sensations of training fights to her advantage, a woman needs to know what false fights look like. These are rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the uterus, training the main organ of a pregnant woman to contract so that during childbirth the cervix opens at the right time. That is why false contractions are also called training ones.

Many doctors also note that Braxton-Hicks contractions enrich the placenta with oxygen and nutrients, as blood flows to the fetus more actively during contraction.

So, false contractions have come, how to define them? The muscles of the uterus are tense, you can feel or feel how it has hardened, it does not hurt, but it can bring discomfort, the contraction lasts from a few seconds to a minute.

How to understand that false contractions have begun:

there is a feeling of compression in the lower abdomen or groin and / or in the upper part of the uterus;
sensations extend only to some area of \u200b\u200bthe abdomen, do not give to the back or pelvis;
irregular contractions - from a couple of times a day to several times an hour, but less than six times an hour;
contractions may be painless, but discomfort is felt;
contractions have no clear rhythm;
the intensity of the contraction decreases rather quickly.

Differences between real fights and false ones:

soreness;
a feeling of cramping with the whole abdomen and pain spreading to the lower back;
regularity, repetition of contractions every 15, then 10, 5 minutes;
increasing intensity - 5 times per minute;
increasing duration of contractions;
the presence of other signs of incipient labor (discharge of amniotic fluid, discharge of mucous plug, diarrhea, pulling pains in the lower spine).

Despite the fact that training contractions occur irregularly, there are moments that can provoke them, for example, physical activity of a pregnant woman or active body movements of a child, stressful situations, intense experiences, orgasm, dehydration, full bladder. Some of these situations can be controlled to minimize the number of training contractions. After all, frequent false contractions are still not the most pleasant prospect for a pregnant woman.

How to ease false contractions

You can try to reduce discomfort in several ways:

drink clean water;
take a more comfortable position;
take a warm shower or a ten-minute bath;
take a walk in the fresh air;
relax to the sounds of nature or meditative music;
conduct breathing exercises.

False contractions before childbirth enable a woman to practice correct breathing during childbirth:

frequent, shallow, doggy-style breathing during the contraction to facilitate its passage. It is not recommended to breathe for more than 220 seconds so that dizziness from lack of oxygen does not start;
exhale slowly during the fight and then inhale deeply, after the end of the contraction repeat deep exhalation and inhalation;
inhale slowly through the nose and exhale sharply through the mouth.

Other types of breathing can be practiced to make the contractions easier.

When to see a doctor

False contractions at 40 weeks will most likely become quite noticeable, and if they become more regular and intense, appear more and more often and last longer, perhaps this is already the beginning of labor and it is time to go to the hospital.

In some cases, training contractions can pose a threat to carrying a pregnancy if they are accompanied by such phenomena as:

bloody discharge (the likelihood of placental abruption);
watery discharge (the likelihood of water discharge);
the release of dense mucus (the mucous plug comes off);
severe pain in the lower back, lower abdomen, in the tailbone;
decreased activity of the child's movements;
a feeling of strong pressure on the perineum;
repetition of contractions more than four times per minute.

All these phenomena should serve as a signal for a pregnant woman to urgently call her doctor or call an ambulance. At your doctor's appointment, be sure to share your feelings, including if training contractions occur too often, in your opinion, and even more so if they began in the early stages of pregnancy.