False labor: when they start, how long they last, sensations, how to determine

During pregnancy, a woman listens to her body more than ever: the baby moved, there was a slight pull in her stomach – and this? Could it really be contractions? But it’s still a bit early, isn’t it? In fact, contractions can appear in the expectant mother long before the onset of labor. However, these are only false contractions that do not lead to the onset of labor. Why are they necessary and how can they not be confused with real ones?

As a rule, a pregnant woman is overwhelmed by a lot of questions. And if there is no specific answer to such questions, then the anxiety increases - especially if the expected date of birth is approaching. We, in turn, will try to answer the most common questions about false contractions.

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Epidemiology

According to statistics, women can detect false contractions as early as the twentieth week of pregnancy. However, most often – in about 70% of women – they appear after the 37-38th week.

No more than 5% of expectant mothers do not feel false contractions throughout the entire pregnancy (although this does not mean that they do not exist).

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Causes false labor

False contractions are a completely normal periodic condition during pregnancy, when the expectant mother feels increasing tension in the uterine organ followed by its relaxation. However, even these contractions do not occur without reason: often the impetus for their appearance is certain circumstances or reasons:

• physical activity (gymnastic exercises of varying intensity, walking, cleaning the house, washing, etc.);
• taking water procedures (bathing, shower, bath);
• increased intrauterine activity of the baby;
• dietary errors (consumption of chocolate, cocoa, coffee, strong tea);
• a moment of experience, fear, anxiety;
• sexual intercourse;
• smoking (even passive smoking);
• unemptied bladder;
• poor sleep or lack of it;
• riding any type of transport (bus, car, train, etc.);
• lack of vitamins and fluids in the body.

Feelings of periodic tension in the uterus can be observed as early as the twentieth week of pregnancy. These are completely normal sensations that should be taken for granted.

False contractions a few days before labor may be somewhat more intense and have a more specific cause - this is the body's preparation for the onset of labor. In this case, contractions are often called "training" - the muscles of the uterine organ are preparing for the upcoming event, and also prepare the woman herself for the sensations that await her ahead.

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Risk factors

Why do some women experience false contractions only shortly before giving birth, while others experience them several months before the baby is born?

Presumably, the cause of this phenomenon may be certain risk factors:

• excessive sensitivity of the expectant mother (the so-called labile nervous system);
• frequent physical activity (pregnant athletes, manual workers);
• poor nutrition and lifestyle (lack of exercise, excess weight, lack of access to fresh air, etc.);
• hereditary predisposition.

If a woman often feels prolonged false contractions long before the birth, then it is necessary to consult a doctor at the antenatal clinic: it is very important not to confuse such contractions with hypertonicity of the uterus and the threat of premature termination of pregnancy.

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Pathogenesis

Experts cannot yet give a precise answer to the question of the pathogenesis of false contractions, which have much in common with real pre-labor uterine contractions, but do not yet indicate the imminent onset of labor. However, some excerpts and conclusions of scientists are still available:

• During false contractions, the muscle groups of the uterus contract with increasing amplitude, but the cervix does not open and labor does not begin.
• False contractions can be detected at the beginning of the second half of pregnancy. But most often - about 70% of them are reported starting from the 37th week.
• Some women are unaware that they are experiencing false contractions: they mistake them for a periodic heaviness in the abdomen.
• Whether there are false contractions or not, neither one nor the other indicates the presence of any pathology in the gestation process.
• During false contractions, the placenta is saturated with oxygen, tissue trophism improves, and the fetus receives much more nutrition.
• False contractions shortly before labor contribute to the softening and shortening of the cervix, which serves as a certain preparation of the uterus for the birth process.

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Symptoms false labor

False contractions are difficult to confuse with real contractions, and there are many signs that indicate this.

Thus, false alarm can occur from 2 to several times a day, and it is felt as an involuntary increasing tension of the uterine muscles.

The first signs of a false contraction occur in attacks: an attack can last from half a minute to 1-2 minutes. During this time, the uterus seems to contract, but then gradually relaxes. There are usually no painful sensations as such.

The harbingers of false contractions may manifest themselves in the form of slight numbness in the lower abdomen, minor pulling sensations, similar to those in the first days of menstruation.

• How long do false contractions last? About 1-2 minutes, no more. In addition to duration, you need to pay attention to other important symptoms:

1. a feeling of increasing and decreasing spasm inside the abdomen (sometimes in the groin area);
2. irregular contractions;
3. unpredictability of the onset of contractions;
4. lack of rhythm.

• Do false contractions always cause discomfort and pain? Such sensations are individual: if false contractions cause the most unpleasant sensations for some women, then for others they can proceed almost unnoticed. However, doctors insist: pain during false contractions should not occur. If there is pain, then it is better not to delay and consult a doctor.
• What should be the interval between false contractions? There is no interval between false contractions – that is, it can be arbitrary. This is a fundamental difference from real labor contractions, which are characterized by equal time intervals.
• Can false contractions occur at night? False contractions can occur at any time of the day, including at night. Some women experience such sensations only at night, although this is individual and cannot be an indicator of either the norm or pathology.
• Can painful false contractions occur at 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 weeks of pregnancy? As a rule, false contractions are not accompanied by pain. A little pain is allowed if such contractions occur in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy. However, the pain should not be very sharp, should not radiate to the lower back, tailbone, back. Increasing pain is typical for real contractions - and this is one of the main differences, which we will talk about a little below.
• If false contractions last a week, does this mean that labor is imminent? No, not always. Some expectant mothers begin to experience false contractions as early as 20-30 weeks: as you understand, it is not possible to talk about the imminent onset of labor in these cases.
• Can there be regular false contractions? No, false contractions are characterized by their irregularity and unpredictability. Regularity is typical for true contractions.
• Are false contractions in women giving birth again different from those during the first pregnancy? Indeed, during repeated pregnancies, a woman may feel almost no false contractions. Moreover, they almost never bother a woman giving birth again until the 32nd week, and for most women – until the 37th week. The reason is that the woman’s body has already had the experience of going through childbirth once (or more than once), so its muscular system is initially ready for such loads.
• When does labor occur after false contractions? There is no clear connection between the appearance of false contractions and the imminent onset of labor. However, if such contractions occur after 37 weeks, it is generally accepted that another 7-14 days may pass before labor.

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Stages

False contractions do not have clearly defined stages, as with true contractions. This is considered the main distinguishing feature.

Let us remember that true contractions occur in three stages:

• the initial stage lasts up to 8 hours (contracts lasting 30-45 seconds, with an interval of five minutes and cervical dilation up to 3 cm);
• the active stage lasts on average 4 hours (contractions last for a minute, with an interval of 2-3 minutes, with a cervical dilation of three to seven centimeters);
• the transition stage can last up to an hour and a half (contracts lasting 1-1.5 minutes, with minimal intervals, with a cervical dilation of seven to ten centimeters).

If a woman has already given birth before, the duration of her contractions almost always decreases.

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Forms

False contractions are also called training contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions. All of the above terms are essentially synonyms.

False Braxton Hicks contractions are not only considered non-pathological, but also in some ways useful for prenatal preparation of the body. Thanks to them, a woman learns to breathe correctly, relax and endure pain.

Throughout the entire period of fetal growth, the female body changes. For example, the uterus increases in size by about five hundred times from the moment of conception until the onset of labor - you can imagine what kind of load the muscular system of the organ has to bear. And in order for the tense muscles of the uterus to be able to contract well during labor to ensure the exit of the child, the uterus needs to train in advance.

Hicks' false contractions are the very same training of the muscular uterine frame. At the same time, during such peculiar training, an additional supply of oxygen to the fetus occurs - and the benefit in this is undeniable.

Therefore, one should not think that false contractions are dangerous, on the contrary! This is just the preparation of the uterus, placenta and the woman herself for the upcoming difficult process of childbirth.

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Complications and consequences

False contractions are a normal natural phenomenon in pregnant women. Therefore, such contractions cannot have any adverse consequences - in this way, the body is simply preparing for the upcoming labor loads.

However, if contractions become periodic and become increasingly painful, then labor may begin soon. Such an increase in symptoms cannot be missed. A woman in such a situation should call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital.

You shouldn't be afraid of false contractions - remember that this is a completely natural and absolutely normal process, which is preparation for the birth of the baby. It is important not to worry at the moment of false contractions, but simply listen to the signals of your body and wait for the onset of truly true contractions.

You can suspect a pathology with false contractions in the following cases:

• tension of the uterus is accompanied by pain, as during menstruation;
• along with tension, blood is released from the genital slit;
• strange vaginal discharge appears;
• there is a feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen;
• the amniotic fluid is released;
• pain appears in other parts of the body - for example, in the lower back or groin.

If any of the listed symptoms are detected, you should urgently consult a doctor.

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Diagnostics false labor

If the expectant mother doubts whether the contractions are really false, then she should go to the maternity ward or to her gynecologist. The doctor will conduct diagnostics and clarify the picture of what is happening.

• Tests in the third trimester in the presence of false contractions are, as a rule, a general blood and urine test. Such studies are carried out several times throughout the entire period of gestation. Shortly before delivery, urine is assessed for the absence of protein, and blood is assessed for normal glucose levels. Blood clotting indicators are also important - in order to assess the risk of bleeding during childbirth.
• Instrumental diagnostics for false contractions necessarily includes examination of the cervix on a gynecological chair. If the contractions are true, the doctor will detect gradual opening of the cervix. In case of false alarm, the cervix does not change. In addition to examination, such a type of study as CTG is carried out. This procedure allows to assess the regularity of tension of the uterine muscles, as well as to monitor the condition of the unborn child. Often, a woman's complaints about false contractions do not fully correspond to reality, since pain sensitivity is different for everyone. CTG will help in this case to describe how regular and intense the contractions are. False contractions on CTG do not have the same intervals, and the child behaves normally and does not show restless behavior.

How to identify false contractions?

A woman can do this herself – it is enough to simply count the frequency of muscle tension. The time is recorded from the moment the uterus begins to tense up – and it is counted until the end of the contraction. Then the time until the next muscle tension is noted. Such notes should be kept for at least an hour – this is the only way to come to certain conclusions.

If the contractions become more frequent and the muscle tension itself becomes longer, then this situation is similar to the beginning of labor.

If contractions become less frequent, or occur chaotically, and their duration decreases, then most likely the alarm was false.

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Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of practice contractions is carried out with premature detachment of a normally located placenta.

Premature detachment of a normally located placenta is characterized by such main signs as bleeding and pain. Additional symptoms are:

• pain in the uterus when palpated;
• increased uterine tone;
• fetal oxygen deficiency.

It is equally important to distinguish between false and real contractions.

How to distinguish false contractions from real ones? Perhaps the following diagram will help:

Symptom	False contractions	True contractions
There is pain that gradually increases	No	Yes
The duration of the contraction increases	No	Yes
The amniotic fluid is breaking	No	Yes
The contractions are irregular, there is no obvious rhythm.	Yes	No
The intensity of tension increases and continues for 60 seconds or more.	No	Yes
Contractions are smoothed out by changing the position of the body or by walking.	Yes	No
A gradual opening and softening of the cervix is observed	No	Yes
There is a feeling of pressure in the groin	No	Yes
Less than 4 uterine contractions are recorded within an hour	Yes	No

Treatment false labor

Let us repeat once again: false contractions are not a pathology, so they do not need to be treated. But how to relieve pain - false contractions can sometimes be painful? Of course, such a condition cannot be called absolutely comfortable. But if the sensations are really unbearable (which happens quite rarely), then you can resort to some measures to ease the well-being of the expectant mother.

For example, it is very important to learn proper breathing during pregnancy. Usually breathing exercises are practiced in women's consultation centers - this is how the doctor teaches women to ease their condition during the birth process. Practicing breathing exercises helps to cope not only during labor itself, but also during false contractions.

If false contractions prevent a woman from getting a good rest, then she should do everything possible to ensure the most comfortable sleep. To do this, you can use additional pillows and blankets, turn on light music (by the way, this will also be useful for the baby), ask relatives to give her a light massage. In such conditions, contractions may weaken, and sleep will gradually improve.

Do they accept women with false contractions into the maternity hospital?

As a rule, if the doctor discovers false contractions in a woman during an appointment, he sends her home. Only pregnant women with true contractions or those who are diagnosed with pathologies of pregnancy remain in the maternity hospital. In the latter case, the expectant mother is sent to the pregnancy pathology department, where she can spend the rest of the period until the birth.

If you come to the maternity hospital with false contractions and you have any additional complaints, do not hesitate to tell the doctor about them. Sometimes, especially in the later stages, even a seemingly insignificant symptom can have a huge and even vital significance.

Medicines

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe medications to reduce the discomfort of false contractions, as well as to prepare the cervix for the upcoming birth.

• No-shpa is prescribed for false contractions from the 38th week, 1 tablet three times a day.
• The use of estrogens is permitted - in tablets or injections, at the discretion of the doctor.
• It is recommended to add vegetable oil to food. It contains a large amount of arachidonic acid, which serves as the main component for the circulation of prostaglandins in skeletal muscles.
• If necessary, the doctor may prescribe the introduction of special gel preparations with prostaglandins into the vaginal vault or into the cervical canal area. An analogue is considered to be the stick of Laminaria - an old medicine that contains a huge amount of prostaglandins.
• To reduce the tone of the uterus, β-adrenergic agonists can be used (Partusisten, Brikanil, Alupent in the form of intravenous drips for 2-3 hours).
• Papaverine for false contractions can be prescribed simultaneously with Na-shpa tablets - one suppository daily at night. Papaverine is an antispasmodic. It helps soften the cervix and eliminate painful sensations during false contractions.

There are many different drug regimens to ease a woman's condition shortly before labor. For example, you can combine β-adrenergic agonists and Dexamethasone (glucocorticoid hormones are the trigger for the beginning of the labor process - an increase in the concentration of cortisol in the amniotic fluid occurs due to the function of the adrenal glands of the future child). Of course, medications are not prescribed to all women - usually these are those who belong to risk groups, as well as those who are expected to have abnormal labor activity (for example, with uterine pathologies). Prescribing antispasmodics without necessity can lead to further weakness of labor activity or to post-term pregnancy.

Vitamins

In the second half of pregnancy, when periodic false contractions can already be observed, a woman needs vitamins more than ever - and most of all ascorbic acid, vitamin K, E and D. The main vitamins can be obtained from food products - vegetables, fruits, berries. Many useful substances are contained in greens, nuts and seeds. For a full intake of vitamin D in the body, it is necessary to be in the sun more often, in the fresh air.

In the last trimester of pregnancy, the expectant mother's body is rapidly losing calcium - it is used to strengthen and form the baby's skeletal system. To avoid possible problems, it is necessary to consume fermented milk products - cottage cheese, fermented baked milk, as well as whole milk and hard cheese.

In addition, the female body needs iodine - it can be obtained from seaweed and figs, as well as iron - it is found in large quantities in apples, pomegranates, and dried fruits.

During the period when a woman already has false contractions, it is necessary to carefully consider the diet. The body must receive all the nutrients in sufficient quantities: only in this case can we guarantee the absence of health problems for both the expectant mother and the baby.

Physiotherapy treatment

If false contractions occur, there is no particular need for physiotherapy. Let us recall that false contractions are a common occurrence in the third trimester of pregnancy, but not a pathological condition. If desired, a woman can resort to tonic methods of physiotherapy - rain, dust, fan shower, light massage of the neck and collar zone and scalp, partial rubbing of the body.

If the expectant mother suffers from nervousness and anxiety, then she may be shown the following methods:

• audiovisual relaxation;
• pine aromatherapy;
• drinking mineral waters with increased content of microelements.

In rare cases, when a woman feels tired and exhausted, electrosleep, bromine-magnesium electrophoresis on the collar zone, aeroionization of the facial zone and the area of the respiratory tract projection, oxygen therapy, and ultraviolet irradiation on a slow principle are used.

Folk remedies

To eliminate the unpleasant sensations of false contractions, some folk methods can help:

• you can change your body position, walk around the room, do light gymnastics;
• you can wash your face with warm water, take a warm shower (but not hot!);
• you can drink 200-300 ml of clean water (dehydration aggravates the unpleasant sensations of contractions);
• It is imperative to relax as much as possible and breathe slowly and deeply.

Many people suggest trying to distract yourself during training contractions: listen to your favorite performer, read a book or flip through a magazine, watch an exciting show or movie.

Such simple methods will not be able to completely get rid of false contractions. However, they will help to smooth out unpleasant sensations and improve the well-being of the expectant mother.

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Herbal treatment

The use of any herbs during pregnancy without the approval of a doctor is strictly prohibited, and every pregnant woman knows this. The recipes that herbalists offer to ease the condition during false contractions and to prepare for labor may not be useful for all women. Therefore, a doctor's consultation before starting herbal treatment is necessary.

• Raspberry leaf tea – improves the adaptation of the uterus during childbirth, relieves pain.
• Thyme infusion – regulates uterine contractions, but can speed up the onset of labor.
• Tea made from clary sage leaves – prevents pain during contractions.
• Rosehip tea prepares the body for excessive physical exertion.
• Hawthorn berry tea – helps relieve spasms and prevent bleeding.
• An infusion of horsetail grass and lingonberry leaves effectively eliminates swelling in late pregnancy.
• Infusion of birch buds increases the endurance of the female body.

To prepare herbal tea, take 1 heaping tablespoon of the herb, brew in 1 liter of boiling water, and let steep for about 15 minutes under a lid. Drink warm, 100 ml three times a day, half an hour before meals.

Homeopathy

In case of unpleasant false contractions and to prepare for labor from the 37th week, the use of homeopathic remedies is permitted:

• Aconite - taken for irregular pain, anxiety, and restlessness.
• Aletris farinosa - taken for muscle pain and loss of strength.
• Arnica – helps reduce pain and prevent bleeding.
• Belladonna - helps relieve symptoms of false contractions.
• Caulophyllum – relieves tension in the muscles of the uterus and cervix, can stimulate labor.
• Chamomilla - relieves pain, eliminates anxiety.
• Cimicifuga is taken for relief before childbirth, 1 grain before bedtime for a week.
• Nux vomica - taken when feeling unwell during contractions, even to the point of fainting.

Homeopathic remedies, like herbal treatments, must be approved by the woman's physician during pregnancy.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment for false contractions is not practiced.

Prevention

Prevention of painful false contractions should begin long before they occur. It is important to get rid of bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol (we hope that you got rid of them before you started planning your pregnancy).

Further preventive measures may be as follows:

• quality and long-lasting sleep (8 to 9 hours daily);
• rest, minimization of physical activity;
• lack of stress, positive attitude;
• breathing exercises, exercise therapy for pregnant women, light massage of the neck and shoulder girdle;
• changes in diet – you should avoid fried and fatty foods, exclude salt, smoked foods, chocolate, and sweets.

It is necessary to include a sufficient amount of vitamins in the diet. They are present in sufficient quantities in plant foods, in dried fruit or berry compote.

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Forecast

False contractions in the third trimester are absolutely normal, and no pregnant woman is immune from their occurrence. If you register with a women's consultation clinic in a timely manner, follow all the doctor's recommendations and regularly undergo examinations and tests, then false contractions will not be painful and will bring a minimum of discomfort to the expectant mother.

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