Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBraxton-HicksEarly LaborActive LaborPushingPost BirthFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Braxton-Hicks
Early Labor
Active Labor
Pushing
Post Birth
Frequently Asked Questions
Laborcontractionscan feel like discomfort or a dull ache in the lower back, a tightening sensation across the abdomen, and pelvic pressure.
Not everyone experiences contractions in the same way. Some people compare contractions with intense period cramps or the pressure of a bowel movement. The uncomfortable sensations may also be felt in the groin, thigh, and side pain.
True labor contractions start out mild but will get longer, stronger, and closer together as labor progresses. Practice contractions (Braxton-Hickscontractions) are contractions of false labor. They feel like a squeezing of the abdomen that does not have a pattern or get worse like labor contractions.
This article explains what contractions can feel like at different stages of pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period.
Week-to-Week Pregnancy Timeline
Braxton-Hicks Contractions
Braxton-Hickscontractions may start as early as your fourth month of pregnancy. They are your body’s way of preparing for labor.These contractions feel like a tightening sensation in the abdomen. Unlike labor contractions, these “practice contractions” do not follow a pattern.
Often, Braxton-Hicks contractions will change or stop if you are:
Are Braxton-Hicks Serious?Braxton-Hicks contractions are not an emergency. They are present in all pregnancies, although people may experience them differently.However, if you feel these contractions four or more times in an hour and are not close to your due date, check with your healthcare provider to make they are not preterm labor contractions.
Are Braxton-Hicks Serious?
Braxton-Hicks contractions are not an emergency. They are present in all pregnancies, although people may experience them differently.However, if you feel these contractions four or more times in an hour and are not close to your due date, check with your healthcare provider to make they are not preterm labor contractions.
Braxton-Hicks contractions are not an emergency. They are present in all pregnancies, although people may experience them differently.
However, if you feel these contractions four or more times in an hour and are not close to your due date, check with your healthcare provider to make they are not preterm labor contractions.
Early Labor Contractions
Early laborcontractions are mild. They usually come every five to 15 minutes and last 60 to 90 seconds. These contractions often feel “crampy.” You may also feel a tightening sensation that starts in your low back and spreads (radiates) toward the front of your abdomen.
You need to start timing contractions in early labor. Timing contractions can help you spot a consistent pattern and determine when to head to the hospital.
Early labor is also when you may lose the collection of mucus that’s been keeping the opening of your cervix closed off throughout pregnancy. When you lose yourmucus plug, you may notice blood-tinged discharge or light bleeding.This release and a little bit of bleeding are not unusual—however, you should contact your provider immediately if you have bleeding that is as heavy as a menstrual period.
What Are Cramps During Pregnancy?
Feeling of Early Labor vs. Braxton-Hicks
Early labor contractions are often confused with Braxton-Hicks contractions because premature labor contractions usually start off mild and take a little while to get into a pattern. As true labor gets closer, you may notice other signs of early labor like your belly “dropping” as the fetus gets into position for delivery and the passing of the mucus plug that protects the fetus during pregnancy.
Verywell / Shideh Ghandeharizadeh
Sometimes, the only way to tell between practice and actual contractions is time. Early labor contractions will keep going regardless of your activity and continue to increase in strength and duration as labor progresses.
Early LaborContractions have a patternGet closer together over timeContinue even when you rest or move aroundGet stronger over timePain may start in the back and move to the frontBraxton HicksDo not follow a patternDo not increase in frequencyMay stop with rest or movementDo not increase in intensityPain is often only felt in the abdomen
Early LaborContractions have a patternGet closer together over timeContinue even when you rest or move aroundGet stronger over timePain may start in the back and move to the front
Contractions have a pattern
Get closer together over time
Continue even when you rest or move around
Get stronger over time
Pain may start in the back and move to the front
Braxton HicksDo not follow a patternDo not increase in frequencyMay stop with rest or movementDo not increase in intensityPain is often only felt in the abdomen
Do not follow a pattern
Do not increase in frequency
May stop with rest or movement
Do not increase in intensity
Pain is often only felt in the abdomen
Active Labor Contractions
Active labor is stillfirst-stage labor, but it is more intense than early first-stage labor. At this stage, there is no doubt you are in labor. Your contractions are more consistent, more painful, and closer together.
Active labor contractions feel like early labor contractions but stronger. You may feel the sensation in your back as well as your abdomen. In addition, you may feel cramps in your upper legs.
Other signs of active labor include:
The 5-1-1 RuleThe 5-1-1 rule is an easy way to track your contractions. When they’re coming every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute each, and happening for at least 1 hour, that’s a sign that what you’re feeling is true labor pain.
The 5-1-1 Rule
The 5-1-1 rule is an easy way to track your contractions. When they’re coming every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute each, and happening for at least 1 hour, that’s a sign that what you’re feeling is true labor pain.
Transition
Transition is often the most challenging and overwhelming part of labor. During this period, the contractions may feel like a lot of pressure in your lower back and bottom. You may begin to feel like you need to push during contractions.
This period of shifting from first-stage labor (opening of thecervix) to second-stage labor (pushing) usually lasts 15 minutes to an hour.
Back Labor
Contractions During Pushing
During the pushing phase of labor—also known as the second stage—contractions will feel like the urge to have a bowel movement.
Contractions during the second stage often slow down considerably. For example, they probably came at the end of first-stage labor every few minutes. In the second stage, they space out to five minutes apart.
During the first stage of labor, contractions open (dilate) and thin (efface) the cervix. During the second stage, contractions expel the fetus from the uterus.
Post-Birth Contractions
After you’ve given birth, you will continue to have contractions to help expel theplacenta. This is known as the third stage of labor and usually takes between five and 30 minutes.
Post-birth contractions are usually less intense than the ones you felt during the other stages of labor. They may feel more like menstrual cramps. Even after the placenta is delivered, you will still have contractions postpartum. These contractions help bring youruterusdown to its pre-pregnancy size.
Breastfeedingstimulates uterine contractions. If you breastfeed, you will continue to have contractions. However, most people do not have discomfort from the contractions after the first few days following childbirth.
Summary
Contractions can feel different throughout pregnancy and labor. You may feel Braxton Hicks contractions starting in the fourth month of your pregnancy. These are just “practice” contractions and can feel like tightening and discomfort. They will not get worse or follow a pattern.
Early labor contractions can feel crampy and will come every five to 15 minutes. These contractions will become more consistent, painful, and closer together as you move into active labor.
Post-birth, you will have contractions to help expel the placenta and bring your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size. If you breastfeed, you also may feel some contractions.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt would be best to go to the hospital when you have painful contractions that last at least one minute each and occur every five minutes for at least two hours. You should also go if your water breaks, even if you aren’t having contractions.Learn MoreHow to Know If You’re in LaborYes. You can have mild or painful contractions for hours, days, or weeks before entering active labor.This means that beginning at 37 weeks, you may experience mild to painful contractions due to prodromal labor.Learn MoreWhat Happens During Prodromal Labor?
It would be best to go to the hospital when you have painful contractions that last at least one minute each and occur every five minutes for at least two hours. You should also go if your water breaks, even if you aren’t having contractions.Learn MoreHow to Know If You’re in Labor
It would be best to go to the hospital when you have painful contractions that last at least one minute each and occur every five minutes for at least two hours. You should also go if your water breaks, even if you aren’t having contractions.
Learn MoreHow to Know If You’re in Labor
Yes. You can have mild or painful contractions for hours, days, or weeks before entering active labor.This means that beginning at 37 weeks, you may experience mild to painful contractions due to prodromal labor.Learn MoreWhat Happens During Prodromal Labor?
Yes. You can have mild or painful contractions for hours, days, or weeks before entering active labor.This means that beginning at 37 weeks, you may experience mild to painful contractions due to prodromal labor.
Learn MoreWhat Happens During Prodromal Labor?
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it normal to feel fake contractions?Lancaster Health.What are Braxton-Hicks contractions?.National Institutes of Health.What are the stages of labor?.Intermountain Healthcare.False vs. true labor: how to tell the difference.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What is back labor?Prevost M, Zelkowitz P, Tulandi T, et al.Oxytocin in pregnancy and the postpartum: relations to labor and its management.Front Public Health. 2014;2. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2014.00001UC San Diego Health.When to go to the hospital for childbirth.American Pregnancy Association.Prodromal labor.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it normal to feel fake contractions?Lancaster Health.What are Braxton-Hicks contractions?.National Institutes of Health.What are the stages of labor?.Intermountain Healthcare.False vs. true labor: how to tell the difference.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What is back labor?Prevost M, Zelkowitz P, Tulandi T, et al.Oxytocin in pregnancy and the postpartum: relations to labor and its management.Front Public Health. 2014;2. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2014.00001UC San Diego Health.When to go to the hospital for childbirth.American Pregnancy Association.Prodromal labor.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it normal to feel fake contractions?Lancaster Health.What are Braxton-Hicks contractions?.National Institutes of Health.What are the stages of labor?.Intermountain Healthcare.False vs. true labor: how to tell the difference.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What is back labor?Prevost M, Zelkowitz P, Tulandi T, et al.Oxytocin in pregnancy and the postpartum: relations to labor and its management.Front Public Health. 2014;2. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2014.00001UC San Diego Health.When to go to the hospital for childbirth.American Pregnancy Association.Prodromal labor.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Is it normal to feel fake contractions?
Lancaster Health.What are Braxton-Hicks contractions?.
National Institutes of Health.What are the stages of labor?.
Intermountain Healthcare.False vs. true labor: how to tell the difference.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What is back labor?
Prevost M, Zelkowitz P, Tulandi T, et al.Oxytocin in pregnancy and the postpartum: relations to labor and its management.Front Public Health. 2014;2. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2014.00001
UC San Diego Health.When to go to the hospital for childbirth.
American Pregnancy Association.Prodromal labor.
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