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One of the biggest things a first-time mother may wonder as she approaches her due date is what contractions will feel like during labor. Many women may even wonder if they will be able to recognize when a contraction happens. But have no fear: It is very likely that you will recognize a contraction when your labor begins. Here’s what you can expect from contractions during labor.
What happens during a contraction?
During a contraction, the muscle fibers of the uterus quite literally contract, which leads to the name “contractions.” During a labor contraction, there is actually quite a bit of work happening: The uterine muscles simultaneously contract to help propel your baby through the birth canal, while also drawing up on the bottom of the uterus to help dilate and “thin out” the cervix to allow the baby to pass through. You can picture contractions like blowing up a balloon: As the balloon fills up with air, the “neck” of the balloon gets thinner and practically disappears, just like the cervix.
There is also a form of contractions called Braxton-Hicks contractions, which you can think of like “warm-up” contractions. The uterine muscles may tighten and contract, but do not have any effect on the cervix, so they aren’t considered “true” contractions yet.
What does a contraction feel like?
Contractions will feel different for every woman, based on a variety of factors, such as:
- If it’s her first baby. Studies have found that first-time mothers tend to experience labor pain in general at a higher perception than women who have had previous births.
- How the baby is positioned
- The mother’s size. One study found that women with a higher BMI, for example, experience contractions differently than women with a lower BMI.
Some women tend to experience contractions as a tightening in the abdominal area, while others feel contractions lower in their body, in the rectal and vaginal areas. According to a 2008 study on labor pain, there are two main types of pain that occur with contractions: 1) a visceral, dull pain that is due to the dilation of the cervix and lower uterus area, and 2) a sharp, somatic pain that occurs when the skin, muscles, and fibers stretch with birth.
How contractions change during labor
Your contractions will change as you move through the three stages of labor. In the early period of the first stage of labor, your contractions will be less severe, might be more irregular in their spacing, and may not last as long. As you move into the second stage of labor, your contractions will get closer together, more intense, and last longer or become more painful.
Should you time your contractions?
You should time your contractions so you can tell if you are going into a regular active labor pattern. Your doctor or pregnancy care provider can give you more specific instructions, but in general, most first-time moms are advised to wait until their contractions have been coming every 2 to 4 minutes for at least 2 hours before going to the hospital. This is because the first stage of labor can take a very long time — sometimes up to 13 hours for a first baby — so it’s best to wait at home for the beginning parts of labor.
However, you should also never hesitate to head to the hospital or call your doctor if you are having contractions or simply want to be checked. Every woman’s labor is different, and you know your body better than anyone. Also, if you are ever experiencing contractions before you are considered full-term (at 37 weeks), you should call your doctor and head to the hospital right away.
