What does a false labor contraction feel like?
Disease description:
Recently, my abdomen has occasionally felt tight and hard without a regular pattern, which has made me a bit worried. A friend who studies medicine mentioned that these might be false contractions. So, what exactly do false contractions feel like?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
False labor contractions, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions, are a common phenomenon during pregnancy, typically beginning in the second trimester, although most pregnant women become aware of them only in the third trimester. These contractions are natural exercises of the uterine muscles that help prepare the uterus for childbirth.
False labor contractions occur without a fixed pattern; their frequency varies, and they may last from several seconds to minutes, with irregular intervals. Pregnant women may feel tightness, heaviness, or discomfort in the lower abdomen, sometimes accompanied by mild pain, but the discomfort is generally mild and does not intensify over time. The sensation of false labor contractions varies among individuals and may be concentrated in the central or lower abdomen.
Pregnant women may feel the uterine fundus dropping lower, as the uterus gradually becomes more vertical during pregnancy. As the cervix ripens and contractions intensify, women may notice an increase in vaginal discharge. These contractions may cause discomfort, but they are usually not as strong or regular as true labor contractions.
If a pregnant woman is unsure whether she is experiencing false or true labor contractions, or if the contractions become frequent, regular, and increasingly intense, she should seek medical attention promptly.
