TRUE AND FALSE LABOR: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

First-time pregnancies always bring a bucket load of emotions along. The uncertainty about hormonal changes in the body and anticipation about bodily changes can become quite overwhelming as your delivery date approaches.

However, various mechanisms in your body prepare you for the birth of your child. One such condition is False Labor. Known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, these labour pains usually start to occur in the third trimester of the pregnancy. These contractions can be rather confusing as the symptoms mostly resemble those of labour pains. So how do you know if it’s a false alarm or if it’s time to bring your baby into the world? Ease your stress with this guide to distinguish between the two! Read On.

1. CONTRACTION TIMING
   The abdominal contractions that are felt during false labour are generally irregular and don’t get more frequent with time. These contractions do not increase while walking, whereas, actual labour pains occur at regular intervals that keep decreasing as the clock ticks. True labour contractions keep getting more frequent, with any physical activity, till each contraction starts to last for about fifty to sixty seconds.
2. STRENGTH OF THE CONTRACTIONS
   The muscle spasms during true labour pains keep getting stronger as the time passes till a visit to the maternity clinic becomes mandatory. Where false labour is concerned, the muscle contractions do not get stronger over time. In most cases, the intensity of false labour contractions decreases when you change positions, and they might even cease to occur with the consumption of a good amount of water.
3. AREA OF DISCOMFORT
   In the case of false labour contractions, the pain is usually felt in the lower abdomen similar to menstrual cramps. However, true labour pain starts at the lower back and later spreads to your abdomen and sometimes even the upper thighs with the passage of time.

The surest symptom to know if you are experiencing true labour is the release of membranes, i.e. breaking of the water, but in most cases the water breaks much after the contractions have started, thereby making it almost impossible to know whether you actually need to visit the doctor or not. In such cases try to notice the duration and strength of the muscle spasms to know for sure.

If you reside in tropical climates, your body might be more prone to false contractions since dehydration and fatigue are major causes of false labour. Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and energetic. The pregnancy hospital in Chennai and other humid cities of India are well adept in helping patients with these conditions. If you stay in the humid climate of Kolkata and constantly suffer from false labour symptoms, visit your maternity clinic on a regular basis to get the best treatment. Similarly, if you are an expecting mother residing in Chennai make it a point to visit the children hospital in Chennai to know the reason for your symptoms. Most importantly, take a deep breath and relax!