Concerns about premature labour are common in pregnant women. Learn about the reasons behind these contractions and ways of easing out the discomfort. When you are in your eighth month of pregnancy, it is natural that you will be worried about whether you might go into premature labour or not. One simply needs to notice all the changes happening in the body and learn the symptoms and report the same to the doctor so that you can be well prepared in cases of a premature labour. It is surely a matter of concern if you are having a preterm baby, but at this stage it can be quite natural given one’s specific condition. All you need for the well-being of yourself and the baby is preparation and timely medical attention. In this articleKnow Your BodyThe Braxton Hicks ContractionsWhat Should You Do?What Should You be Concerned About?Know Your Body The foremost point to note here is that, a preterm labour does not always entail a premature baby. Your baby might be completely developmentally and ready for birth and hence you enter the preterm labor. But then, what happens actually in most cases is that many women enter or experience a premature labour but give birth after 3-4 weeks. Unless there are certain complications in the health of the mother or the position or condition of the baby, doctors do not opt for a preterm baby. The premature labour is mostly a practice of your body as it prepares itself for delivery. The Braxton Hicks Contractions The premature labour is also commonly termed as ‘false’ labour and in medical terminology; it’s called the Braxton Hicks contractions. You get to experience these contractions around the eighth month of pregnancy where you feel regular uterine contractions in the abdomen. Initially they are not painful, but later on as the contractions become somewhat more frequent, the tightening and relaxing of the abdomen might cause a feeling of pain too. This gain is normal, as the uterus is basically contracting and relaxing on its own as the time for delivery nears. These contractions are very infrequent and there is no regular pattern to this. You will also note that they are also not caused by some particular movement or position on your part. They can come and go on their own and not get aggravated by your walking or sitting up. Their intensity is nothing in comparison to true labour. What Should You Do? Once you know the reasons behind these contractions, you can adopt a few simple practices that will help you deal with it. These contractions are natural symptoms and thus, you should avoid getting worked up about them. They do not indicate a premature labour. So, soothe your nerves and try to relax. You can lie down or recline your back to feel better and take some rest to rejuvenate yourself. It is found that a slow walk or a change in position can help in easing out the discomfort. Drinking some water or juice will make you feel better as the contraction subsides gradually. Often a light snack helps. A slight massage in the abdominal region in a gentle manner also eases the contractions and helps you to feel better. What Should You be Concerned About? As your delivery date draws nearer, you must be very careful in noticing all the symptoms. If you find that the contractions are coming at regular intervals and are lasting for 30 seconds to over a minute, and they are becoming more frequent with time, then you must know that you are approaching the real labour. Then, if the intensity increases and the contractions travel from the back of your spine to the front of your abdomen, this is also a point of concern as you are close to labour. There is absolutely nothing to panic; only you should be prepared with your doctor for it.
Concerns about premature labour are common in pregnant women. Learn about the reasons behind these contractions and ways of easing out the discomfort. When you are in your eighth month of pregnancy, it is natural that you will be worried about whether you might go into
premature labour or not. One simply needs to notice all the changes happening in the body and learn the symptoms and report the same to the doctor so that you can be well prepared in cases of a premature labour. It is surely a matter of concern if you are having a preterm baby, but at this stage it can be quite natural given one’s specific condition. All you need for the well-being of yourself and the
baby is preparation and timely medical attention.
Know Your Body
The foremost point to note here is that, a preterm labour does not always entail a premature baby. Your baby might be completely developmentally and ready for birth and hence you enter the preterm labor. But then, what happens actually in most cases is that many women enter or experience a premature labour but give birth after 3-4 weeks. Unless there are certain complications in the health of the mother or the position or condition of the baby, doctors do not opt for a preterm baby. The premature labour is mostly a practice of your body as it prepares itself for delivery.
The Braxton Hicks Contractions
The premature labour is also commonly termed as ‘false’ labour and in medical terminology; it’s called the Braxton Hicks contractions. You get to experience these contractions around the eighth month of pregnancy where you feel regular uterine contractions in the abdomen. Initially they are not painful, but later on as the contractions become somewhat more frequent, the tightening and relaxing of the abdomen might cause a feeling of pain too. This gain is normal, as the uterus is basically contracting and relaxing on its own as the time for delivery nears. These contractions are very infrequent and there is no regular pattern to this.
You will also note that they are also not caused by some particular movement or position on your part. They can come and go on their own and not get aggravated by your walking or sitting up. Their intensity is nothing in comparison to true labour.
What Should You Do?
Once you know the reasons behind these contractions, you can adopt a few simple practices that will help you deal with it. These contractions are natural symptoms and thus, you should avoid getting worked up about them. They do not indicate a premature labour. So, soothe your nerves and try to relax. You can lie down or recline your back to feel better and take some rest to rejuvenate yourself. It is found that a slow walk or a change in position can help in easing out the discomfort. Drinking some water or juice will make you feel better as the contraction subsides gradually. Often a light snack helps. A slight massage in the abdominal region in a gentle manner also eases the contractions and helps you to feel better.
What Should You be Concerned About?
As your delivery date draws nearer, you must be very careful in noticing all the symptoms. If you find that the contractions are coming at regular intervals and are lasting for 30 seconds to over a minute, and they are becoming more frequent with time, then you must know that you are approaching the real labour. Then, if the intensity increases and the contractions travel from the back of your spine to the front of your abdomen, this is also a point of concern as you are close to labour. There is absolutely nothing to panic; only you should be prepared with your doctor for it.
