False Labor Contractions
Many women who are pregnant for the first time may experience false labor contractions and needlessly rush to the hospital. Unfortunately, in many of these cases the expectant mother will simply have to return home and begin to patiently wait again until the big moment actually arrives for real.
Trying to distinguish between real contractions vs false contractions can be quite difficult for many women who are having their first baby. However, there are some signs that you can look for to help you determine when you are in false labor.
False Labor Symptoms
- Sensation of general abdominal tightening
- The contractions are unpredictable and not following a certain time interval
- The contractions are not becoming stronger over time and become more intense
- False contractions tend to go away when you get up and move around, whereas true labor contractions will remain constant no matter if you are sitting still or moving around
- A true labor contraction will be felt in both your lower abdomen and lower back, while false labor contractions generally stay concentrated in the lower abdomen
What Do Early Contractions Feel Like?
In the beginning when you are having true labor contractions, they will start out with less intensity, almost like period cramps and last less than a minute, and generally be about 10 or 15 minutes apart.
Eventually the intensity of the contractions will grow and the length of time between each contraction will not be as long. Generally, if the contractions are less than five minutes apart and are longer than 60 seconds each, it is highly suggested that you leave for the hospital.
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