False Labor

As your pregnancy progresses, you may have an occasional contraction, that is you may feel your uterus tighten and relax. These Braxton-Hicks contractions are normal but they are not labor. When the contractions are frequent and close together, they are called false labor. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between true labor and false, and your health-care provider may have to check to see whether your cervix has effaced (thinned) and dilated (opened).

You are probably experiencing false labor if:

• contractions are irregular or sporadic
• contractions are not consistent in length and no pattern develops
• contractions do not become stronger and closer together over time
• contractions are low in the belly and groin; they do not wrap around from the back to the belly
• contractions stop when you rest and change positions

You are probably experiencing true labor if:

• contractions come at consistent intervals and get closer together
• contractions last 30-70 seconds and get longer
• contractions do not go away even if you rest
• contractions wrap around from your lower back into your belly
• contractions get stronger over time
• you are unable to talk through a contraction

If Braxton-Hicks contractions are making you uncomfortable, take a warm bath and drink plenty of fluids.

Every woman experiences labor differently with every baby. If you do not know whether you are in true labor, call your health care provider for guidance.