CONTRACTIONS: HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND WHEN TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL

The contractions of childbirth are the first movements of the uterus as it prepares for the birth of the baby. They mark the beginning of labor and indicate the time when you should go to the hospital, or in any case prepare for the event. But how to recognize them? always preparatory contractions and when is it really time to go to the hospital?

How many types of contractions are there?

Braxton Hicks contractions: let's learn to recognize them

Children's Friendly Hospital: structures recognized by UNICEF

To understand how contractions work during pregnancy, it is good to start distinguishing them. There are in fact 3 different types of contractions: the preparatory ones, the Braxton Hicks contractions or irregular contractions, and the birth contractions, that is, those that really announce the onset of labor and the arrival of the baby. Let's see these types of contractions one by one, to learn to distinguish them and not be alarmed ahead of time.

How to recognize contractions? The video to find out

In this video, Nanny Simona explains how to recognize contractions and when it's really time to go to the hospital. Often the contractions are an anticipation of a natural birth, because if all goes well and the labor begins on its own, the mother will be able to give birth naturally. Other times, however, despite the contractions, a caesarean section must be used for various reasons. In some cases again, if the baby does not decide to be born, induced birth is used, which is precisely a stimulation of contractions and labor with medical help. Learn all about contractions in our video!

1. Preparatory contractions: how long do they last?

From the third trimester of pregnancy, from the rush to the hospital ... The uterus begins to dilate, at first only occasionally and minimally. This preparation of the uterus is precisely episodic, and the contractions are so irregular that many women do not even realize they have them. Often they do not last long, so much so that they simply think of a pain in the lower abdomen. They are painful, as we said, but not for all. .

2. Braxton Hicks Contractions: What Are They?

Braxton Hicks contractions are also called irregular contractions. They are often confused with childbirth contractions because they occur in the ninth month, are quite painful, but occur with an irregular frequency. It is therefore not necessary to go to the hospital if you are in the ninth month and you have contractions from time to time, of too variable intensity and frequency. Simply, Braxton Hicks contractions mark the pre-birth stage, and you can take them as a simple warning that full-fledged contractions are on the way.

3. The contractions of childbirth: it's time to go to the hospital!

And here we are with the actual contractions, the ones that must be monitored and kept under control, because they announce the birth. At first they appear as a "wave of pain, which crosses the lower abdomen and back. The pain begins slowly, and gradually increases in intensity, until it gradually disappears. When we talk about true birth contractions, the pain returns to waves with a certain frequency. As the uterus dilates more and more, the contractions become closer in time, and the pangs stronger. To understand when the time has come, and to start going to the hospital, just monitor the frequency of contractions. When the contractions last longer than 40 seconds, and each new wave is more painful than the previous one, it means that we are there. If you are in your first pregnancy, there is no need for too much haste, because it can take a long time from the first real contraction to the expulsive phase of labor. If you have also broken your waters, it is time to go to the hospital.