While the pain of early labor contractions can mimic gas pain, there are some key ways to tell them apart. You're likely having contractions if your abdominal discomfort includes the following characteristics.
They get more and more intense and last for longer as labour progresses." "The feeling is something like severe trapped wind but on a stronger, more painful scale."
Gas pains cause a bloated feeling in your stomach, whereas labor pains include a muscle contraction across your abdomen. If you feel that your stomach tightens up every time you experience pain, you are most likely experiencing contractions and not gas pains.
Since every woman has a different level of sensitivity to contractions and other sensations that occur inside the belly (gas, bloating, under-rib pains and stretching), Braxton Hicks will feel differently. In general, you'll feel false contractions as a type of painless, numb pressure in your upper abdomen.
Early labor contractions may feel as if you have an upset stomach or trouble with your digestive system. You may feel them like a tidal wave because they increase and finally subside gradually. Some women feel intense cramps that increase in intensity and stop after they deliver.
"I think contractions feel like a combination of nasty period cramps and horrible bowel movement cramps at the same time. I know they say they start in your back, but I felt like mine started everywhere at the same time." "My contractions with my second pregnancy were completely different from my first.
Many women compare them to menstrual cramps, while others liken them to bowel movement cramps. The pain can extend through your thighs and down your legs, and some moms-to-be even report feeling contractions throughout their entire body. Suffice to say, the pain might be localized or it could be all-encompassing.
Labor contractions usually cause discomfort or a dull ache in your back and lower abdomen, along with pressure in the pelvis. Contractions move in a wave-like motion from the top of the uterus to the bottom. Some women describe contractions as strong menstrual cramps.
Your contractions may feel like cramps in your lower stomach and can start off feeling like period pain. You may have dull lower back pain or pain in your inner thigh that you feel down your legs. At first, your contractions will be short and around 30 minutes apart.
When you're in true labor, your contractions last about 30 to 70 seconds and come about 5 to 10 minutes apart. They're so strong that you can't walk or talk during them. They get stronger and closer together over time. You feel pain in your belly and lower back.
If you're in early labor, your contractions aren't back-to-back or extremely painful and you feel the urge to poop, chances are, you really do have to go. Poop happens in labor in tandem with all those contractions as a natural way to clean house in preparation for baby.
Early labor
You may feel mild contractions that come every 5 to 15 minutes and last 60 to 90 seconds. You may have a bloody show. This is a pink, red or bloody vaginal discharge. If you have heavy bleeding or bleeding like your period, call your provider right away.
If this is your first baby, you should go to the hospital when your contractions feel strong to you, last 45 to 60 seconds each and occur every 3 to 4 minutes for at least 2 hours. If you've had a baby before, go to the hospital when your contractions have been occurring every 5 minutes for at least 1 hour.
According to the "411 Rule" (commonly recommended by doulas and midwives), you should go to the hospital when your contractions are coming regularly 4 minutes apart, each one lasts at least 1 minute, and they have been following this pattern for at least 1 hour. You may also hear about the 511 rule.
A person's body goes through many changes throughout pregnancy. These include physical and hormonal changes that can cause excess gas. Gas pain can range from mild discomfort to severe pain throughout the abdomen, back, and chest. A person may also notice bloating and stomach or intestinal cramps.
“I've seen patients become dilated about 3 or 4 centimeters without active labor,” says Williams. “They're usually in their late third trimesters.” On the flip side, it's also normal for the cervix not to be dilated at all before labor.
Try the following tips to ease you through this stage: Try sleeping or resting. You could be in labour for some time, and the more energy you can save, the better. If contractions make it uncomfortable to lie down, try leaning over cushions or on a birth ball with a blanket over you.
Braxton Hicks contractions feel like a tightening of your abdomen, something like a sit-up. They are usually mild and painless. Other times it can be more painful. You might worry you are going into true labor, but these early contractions don't happen at regular intervals and they don't dilate your cervix.
It can be hard to tell when you are truly in labor. Contractions (belly tightening) are the main sign of labor. They last from 30 to 60 seconds and might feel like period cramps at first. False labor pains (called "Braxton Hicks" contractions) can happen anytime in pregnancy, but are more common toward the end.
Stomach contractions when not pregnant is a common complaint for women who have irritable bowel syndrome. IBS is usually diagnosed when you have recurring abdominal pain and changes to your bowel habits over several months, such as constipation or diarrhea.
If you came to the hospital while in early labour, your doctor or midwife may ask you to labour at home until your contractions are stronger. Many women stay at home during early labour. This is often the longest part of the birthing process. It may last up to 2 to 3 days.
Spending most of your time in bed, especially lying on your back, or sitting up at a small angle, interferes with labor progress: Gravity works against you, and the baby might be more likely to settle into a posterior position. Pain might increase, especially back pain.
Labour can start very quickly, but is often slow at the start (particularly if it's your first baby). Sometimes it can start without you realising it.