03/24/2022
There is no such thing as FALSE labor.
Ugh, I hate that description.
Every single thing you feel as your body is getting ready to birth your baby is meaningful.
There IS, on the other hand, such a thing as freaking out because you don’t know the meaning of what you’re feeling.
So, hopefully this will help you when you’re feeling contractions.
#1 - Many times, simply overdoing it can kick things into high gear without actually starting a labor pattern that ends in birth. Yes, you may start having contractions that wake you up, and they may end up fizzling out, but most of the time, contractions that start when you’re relaxed end up being the real thing. Just remember to change up whatever you were doing. If you’ve been on your feet, going going going all day long, then sit down. Maybe even do a meditation/visualization, and calm your body.
#2 While you’re at it, grab a glass (or a quart!) of water. You may think that the massive amount of water you’re already drinking is enough, and usually it is (assuming it really IS a lot), but you can become dehydrated for many reasons, and when you’re pregnant those reasons are more prevalent. You may have even heard stories of people thinking they were in labor, or having lots of contractions well before their due date - ending up in the hospital where the contractions stopped after getting IV fluids. Although you might have to go that route, drinking on your own could very well decrease or stop the contractions without having to go to the hospital.
#3 You don’t necessarily have to time these contractions you’re feeling, but noticing whether they’re all over the place or coming in a pattern, is significant. And if they are feeling different as time goes on - becoming more intense and painful - this is not like having a few contractions, then not having any for a few hours, and/or not noticing any changes in how they feel.
Now if you do #1 and #2 and you pay attention ( #3), and your contractions continue to get longer, stronger and closer together, it’s very likely that these are labor contractions. If they slow down or stop, they are practice contractions.
ANY QUESTIONS??