Itisnotuncommonforawomantothinkthatsheisexperiencinglabourpainswhenitisactuallynothingbutafalsealarm.Learnmoreaboutfalseandreallabourpain.Onnearingtheduedate,manywomenexperiencepainlessandinfrequentcontractionswhichseemlikelabourpain.Yougetreadyandleaveforthehospitalonlytofindthatithascompletelystopped.Manywomenoftenfeelembarrassedonrealizingthatitwasactuallynothingbutafalsealarm.However,youcanbeassuredthatthereisnothingtofeelfoolishorembarrassedabout.Remainpositiveandlookatitasagoodpracticeexperience.InthisarticleWhatisFalseLabour?RealLabourContractionsFactsaboutFalseLabourSignsofRealLabourWhatShouldyouDoWhenRealLabourBegins?WhatisFalseLabour?Periodiccontractionsoftheuterususuallyoccurinthethirdtrimesterandtheyareoftenmistakentobesignsofreallabour.BraxtonHickscontractionsalsoknownas‘falselabour’contractionscanevenbepainfulattimeswhichmakesitseemallthemoreliketherealone.Theyusuallybeginatnight.Thediscomfortandpainfadesawaygraduallyunlikereallabourpainwhichconsistentlygrowslongerandstronger.However,notallwomenexperiencethesefalselabourcontractions.RealLabourContractionsContractionseveryfivetosixminutesareasignofreallabourpain.Falselabourcontractionsareirregularandunpredictablehoweverreallabourcontractionskeepincreasingconsistentlyandstartcomingatshorterintervals.BraxtonHickscontractionsorfalselabourcontractionsaremorelikelytooccuraroundthelowerabdomenregionbutreallabourpainstartsintheupperpartofyourabdomenandradiatestotheback.Thus,theintensityandlocationofthepainwillhelpyoudistinguishbetweentruelabourpainandBraxtonHickscontractions.FactsaboutFalseLabourShiftingandchangingpositionmayhelpthediscomforttoreduce.TakingawarmbathoftenhelpstoeasethepainofBraxtonHickscontractions.Notdrinkingenoughwatercancausefalselabourcontractions.Walkingormovingaroundmayhelptorelievefalselabourcontractionshoweverreallabourpaindoesnotgoawayevenwhenyouchangeyourlevelofactivity.Incaseoffalselabour,thereislittleornochangetothecervix.However,incaseofreallabour,yourcervixwillbegintodilate.SignsofRealLabourApartfromcontractions,thereareothersignswhichshowthatyouareintheearlystagesoflabour.Fluidleakingfromthevaginaalsoknownas“waterbreaking”isasignofactuallabour.Regularcontractionsmaybeginbeforeorafteryourwaterbreaks.Themucusplugsealingthecervicalcanalforninemonthscomesawayandthereisadischargeofthickstickymucustingedwithbrown,redorpinkbloodwhichyouwillnotice.Thismucusmaycomeoutslowlyorallatonce.Vomitinganddiarrhoea,achesandpains,restlessnessandweightlossaresomeoftheothersignsoflabour.Therewillbelessfoetalmovementwhichmeansthatthebaby’smovementisrestrictedanditisabouttobeginthebirthprocess.WhatShouldyouDoWhenRealLabourBegins?Youshouldcallyourdoctorormidwifeevenifyouarenotcompletelysurebutfeelthatthetimehascome.Healthcareproviderscanofferproperguidanceandtheyareusedtoreceivingcallsfromvariouswomenwhoarenotsurewhetheritisreallabourornot.Ifyoufeeluneasyorjustdonotfeelyourself,donotworryorhesitatetocalltheconcernedperson.Regularcontractionsevery5to6minutes,bleedingandwaterbreakingarethreeimportantsignsthatyourbigdayishere.Towardstheendofyourpregnancy,yourpractitionerwillmostprobablyprovideyouaclearlistofguidelinestoletyouknowwhenyoushouldgotothehospitalorbirthcentre.Dayornight,donothesitatetocallyourdoctorifanythingseemsoutoftheordinary.Thesearethecommonsignsandsymptomsoflabourhowevereverypregnancyisdifferentandlabourfeelsdifferentforeverywoman.Whatarethesignsofreallabourpain?Howisfalselabourpaindifferentfromtherealone?Howtomanagereallabourpain?Discusshere.
It is not uncommon for a woman to think that she is experiencing labour pains when it is actually nothing but a false alarm. Learn more about false and real labour pain. On nearing the due date, many women experience painless and infrequent contractions which seem like
labour pain. You get ready and leave for the hospital only to find that it has completely stopped. Many women often feel embarrassed on realizing that it was actually nothing but a false alarm. However, you can be assured that there is nothing to feel foolish or embarrassed about. Remain positive and look at it as a good practice experience.
What is False Labour?
Periodic contractions of the uterus usually occur in the third trimester and they are often mistaken to be signs of real labour. Braxton Hicks contractions also known as ‘false labour’ contractions can even be painful at times which makes it seem all the more like the real one. They usually begin at night. The discomfort and pain fades away gradually unlike real labour pain which consistently grows longer and stronger. However, not all women experience these false labour contractions.
Real Labour Contractions
Contractions every five to six minutes are a sign of real labour pain. False labour contractions are irregular and unpredictable however real labour contractions keep increasing consistently and start coming at shorter intervals. Braxton Hicks contractions or false labour contractions are more likely to occur around the lower abdomen region but real labour pain starts in the upper part of your abdomen and radiates to the back. Thus, the intensity and location of the pain will help you distinguish between true labour pain and Braxton Hicks contractions.
Facts about False Labour
Shifting and changing position may help the discomfort to reduce. Taking a warm bath often helps to ease the pain of Braxton Hicks contractions. Not drinking enough water can cause false labour contractions. Walking or moving around may help to relieve false labour contractions however real labour pain does not go away even when you change your level of activity. In case of false labour, there is little or no change to the cervix. However, in case of real labour, your cervix will begin to dilate.
Signs of Real Labour
Apart from contractions, there are other signs which show that you are in the early stages of labour. Fluid leaking from the vagina also known as “water breaking” is a sign of actual labour. Regular contractions may begin before or after your water breaks. The mucus plug sealing the cervical canal for nine months comes away and there is a discharge of thick sticky mucus tinged with brown, red or pink blood which you will notice. This mucus may come out slowly or all at once. Vomiting and diarrhoea, aches and pains, restlessness and weight loss are some of the other signs of labour. There will be less foetal movement which means that the baby’s movement is restricted and it is about to begin the birth process.
What Should you Do When Real Labour Begins?
You should call your doctor or midwife even if you are not completely sure but feel that the time has come. Health care providers can offer proper guidance and they are used to receiving calls from various women who are not sure whether it is real labour or not. If you feel uneasy or just do not feel yourself, do not worry or hesitate to call the concerned person. Regular contractions every 5 to 6 minutes, bleeding and water breaking are three important signs that your big day is here.
Towards the end of your pregnancy, your practitioner will most probably provide you a clear list of guidelines to let you know when you should go to the hospital or birth centre. Day or night, do not hesitate to call your doctor if anything seems out of the ordinary. These are the common signs and symptoms of labour however every pregnancy is different and labour feels different for every woman.
What are the signs of real labour pain? How is false labour pain different from the real one? How to manage real labour pain? Discuss here.
