Am I in Labor?

This is one of the trickiest things for first time mothers because you have never experienced it

and you have to rely on descriptions by others to figure out what is going on.

Adding to this confusion, your body will often have practice contractions called Braxton Hicks

contractions to prepare the uterus for labor.

Pre-term Labor Guidelines

20 to before 37 Weeks

The first concern is pre-term labor because it can occur between 20-36 weeks. Your baby needs

to continue to grow inside you for the full term of your pregnancy. Labor earlier than three

weeks before your due date can lead to a premature (preemie) baby with many possible health

problems since he is not ready to live outside the womb.

The signs of labor include the following. You may not have all the signs.

• Low , dull backache

• 4 or more uterine contractions per hour. Uterine contractions maybe perceived by

you as:

Menstrual cramps

Sensation of the “baby rolling up in a ball”

Abdomen tightening like a fist

Abdominal cramping (with or without diarrhea)

Increased uterine activity compared to previous patterns

• Increased pelvic pressure (maybe with thigh cramps)

• Sensation that something feels different such as agitation, flu-like feelings ,

sensation that the baby has dropped

• Spotting or bleeding or a change in your normal vaginal discharge

If you experience any of the above symptoms you should

• Stop what you are doing and empty your bladder

• Drink 3-4 glasses of water

• Lie down on your left side for one hour and place your hands on your abdomen

and feel for tightening and hardening of your uterus

• Count how many contractions you have in an hour

• If you have more than four contractions in an hour call either your clinic or Labor

& Delivery Nurse's Station 953-4601/4602 immediately

If you have any of the above signs and the things you do work, tell your health care provider

during regular appointments.

If you are experiencing the signs of labor after 36 weeks or the “Things to do” above don't work,

you may be in true labor. The chart below shows the difference between true labor and false

labor.

True vs. False Labor

True Labor

False Labor

Contractions are usually

• regular

• get closer together

• duration increases over time

• become more painful

• pain spreads, usually felt in the

back and coming around to the front

• intensify if you walk & they do not

go away

Contractions are usually

• irregular

• don't get closer

• duration stays the same

• pain usually does not increase

• pain often felt in and stays in the

lower abdomen

• stop if you walk or stop when you

stop walking

Bloody show

No bloody show

Drinking fluids has no affect

Drinking fluids slows down

contractions

Water breaking

Timing Contractions

Time for one hour

To determine how far apart the contractions are (frequency), you start the time at the beginning

of a contraction and end the time at the beginning of the next contraction. This will be in minutes

and measured to the closest minute or half minute.

To determine how long the contraction lasts (duration), you start the time at the beginning of the

contraction and end the time at the end of the contraction. This will be in seconds up to about 90

seconds and usually measured in 15 second intervals.

You should discuss with your doctor when to go to the hospital. Generally it will be when your

contractions are about 3-5 minutes apart and last for about 60 seconds or more for a first

pregnancy. Second and subsequent babies tend to come quicker. Be sure to allow for traffic at

the tunnels. The Virginia Department of Transportation provides updated traffic information on

AM 610. If you are unsure or have question call Labor & Delivery at 953-4601/4602.