How to recognize training contractions

During pregnancy, a woman is able to experience a wide range of sensations. This includes frequent urination, swelling, heaviness, and much more. One of these unusual sensations is false contractions. They are designed to better prepare a pregnant woman and her body for the upcoming labor.

Feelings during training contractions

First time symptoms training or false contractions were described as early as the late 19th century. They are periodically repeated contractions of the muscles of the uterus. Immediately after them, the birth process does not start. Therefore, it is generally accepted that such contractions only prepare a woman for childbirth.

False contractions can appear after the middle of pregnancy, that is, when the 20th week of pregnancy has passed. At the same time, a woman may be scared - after all, there is still a lot of time before giving birth. Some women generally confuse false contractions with the onset of a miscarriage.

During a training contraction, a woman does not feel pain, discomfort and other unpleasant feelings are also absent. During a contraction, a woman feels a quick tension in the muscles in the lower abdomen, which does not cause severe pain. A slight aching pain may be felt in the lower back and lower abdomen. Many women describe their condition as a cramp in the lower abdomen. The uterus turns to stone, but soon the condition returns to normal. Some women compare false contractions with the sensations at the beginning of menstruation - there is a feeling of fossilization in the lower abdomen, and there may be an unpleasant stretching.

How long do training contractions last?

There is no exact answer to the question about the duration of false contractions. It all depends on the individual characteristics of the pregnant woman’s body. False contractions can last only a minute in some women, while in others the body “trains” for up to four hours.

The duration of pregnancy contractions also has a great influence. The larger it is, the longer this process will be. Stress, high workload and bad habits increase the likelihood of their occurrence. Sometimes the reason for the onset of false contractions can be the high activity of the pregnant woman, playing sports, sex, or simply not emptying the bladder on time.

If a woman is at home, the cessation of training contractions can be helped by taking a warm, relaxing shower or a light massage. Good sleep and the use of sedatives based on herbal ingredients are beneficial.

If false contractions occur, do not panic and rush to the maternity hospital. Typically, such contractions are not regular, they do not become more frequent, but on the contrary, the time interval between them increases and soon the contractions stop altogether. To reduce the intensity of training contractions, a simple change in body position or a short rest is usually used. A slow walk in the air or quenching your thirst helps relieve stress. Drink water, green tea or fruit drink.

Training contractions - how long before labor do they begin?

If there are no other signs and if the interval between contractions does not shorten, there is no need to worry in advance. There is still enough time before the birth. But if other symptoms appear, the pregnant woman may need medical attention.
The longer the pregnancy, the more difficult it is to distinguish between training contractions and true harbingers of labor. At a period of more than 38 weeks, the probability of the onset of real labor is very high.

Therefore, as the due date approaches, you should be more careful. A woman should be wary if the following symptoms appear:

• Fetal movements became less frequent.
• There is bleeding or unusual or bloody vaginal discharge.
• Happened leakage of amniotic fluid.
• A woman feels pain in her lower back or lower back.

In this case, it is better for the woman to consult a doctor. However, there is no need to worry. Remain calm, because labor will begin sooner or later. For a pregnant woman, it is better to call an ambulance once again than to miss the onset of labor, thinking that the contractions are false and waiting for them to stop.