During pregnancy, so-called exercise contractions and sinking contractions (or preterm contractions) merge into each other. However, both types of contractions do not yet show any effect on the cervix and its opening. It is important not to ignore the so-called training or low contractions if the pregnant woman is already close to her due date. Finally, they can also be real labor pains that announce the beginning of the birth process.
Childbirth is about to begin: why do practice contractions and sinking contractions occur?
The uterus starts making preparations for the birth process as early as the 20th week of pregnancy. From this point on, pregnant women repeatedly notice an unfamiliar feeling of tension; this sensation is also often described as a pulling in the abdomen. The most probable reason for this is that the contractions are lowering contractions and exercise contractions. During these contractions, the smooth muscles of the uterus begin to contract and then relax again. The first contractions strengthen the muscles; the child and the placenta are better supplied with blood. Through these contractions, the uterus is already training for birth. The first contractions are the so-called Alvarez contractions. These are very short and also wave-like training contractions. They are irregular, very light and also uncoordinated. During the exercise contractions, only small areas of the uterus tighten. As the pregnancy progresses, however, larger and larger parts of the muscles contract. The contractions subsequently become stronger and also more frequent. Doctors also refer to these contractions as so-called Braxton-Hicks contractions. These are also still classic exercise contractions, which de facto have no effect on the cervix and do not ensure that the birth begins.
How do exercise contractions make themselves felt?
The first contractions are noticeable approximately by the fact that the woman feels that her belly becomes firmer. This is an uncomfortable condition, but it is by no means consistent with pain. In a few cases, women may report pain, which is always compared to menstrual pain. The pregnant woman recognizes exercise contractions by the fact that the contractions occur regularly, but have very long intervals. So-called contractions may occur every few hours – one to three times an hour. After that, longer pauses in labor are the case. The exercise contractions then subside when the pregnant woman lies down or sometimes warms her abdomen. If the contractions become stronger even though the pregnant woman is lying down or warming her abdomen, or do not weaken, and if they occur more frequently than three times an hour or more than ten times a day, a doctor should be contacted. Especially if the pregnant woman is close to her due date. Sometimes these may be real labor pains and the birth process may have already begun. Therefore, if the suspicion is present, the woman should not hesitate under any circumstances, even if she sometimes believes that it is only sink contractions.
What are contractions?
Contractions have no effect on the cervix and do not cause it to open. As the name implies, the contractions ensure that the uterus with the baby only sinks deeper into the pelvis of the pregnant woman. The head slides towards the birth canal; as a rule, this condition occurs from the 36th week of pregnancy. For this reason, exercise contractions also occur much earlier than descending contractions. However, it is not possible to make a general statement about when a woman will have the first contractions. Sometimes the decisive factor is whether it is the first birth or whether several children have already been born. If the pregnant woman has already given birth to several children, sinking pains may not be noticed until a few days before the actual birth. It may also be the case that the head does not move towards the pelvis until the birth begins. Under this scenario, the pregnant woman cannot distinguish whether it is actually labor or descent.
How do descending contractions affect the expectant mother?
Many women do not notice any physical signs or changes when sink labor occurs. At most, they notice that the abdomen has become firmer or that “something has changed,” but they definitely cannot tell what change has actually occurred. However, the abdomen sits lower when contractions have occurred.In the upper abdomen, women notice more space again. Complaints such as the unpleasant feeling of fullness, constant heartburn or shortness of breath can improve. However, the new position of the child causes other complaints. In many cases, the child lies on the bladder, which means that the urge to urinate is much stronger than usual. If the pregnant woman therefore has to go to the toilet more often, this may already be a sign that she has already had contractions. In many cases, pregnant women do not notice that they have had contractions until the urge to urinate increases or the woman has the constant feeling that she needs to empty her bladder.
How do real contractions differ?
The rule states that contractions that very well cause pain and occur at regular intervals, and also can in no way be alleviated by heat, should not be ignored. Here, the pregnant woman should contact a doctor. Finally, the contractions can also be preterm labor. Especially if the pregnant woman is already in the late stages of pregnancy, one should by no means “hope” that they are training or sinking contractions. Therefore, if there is even the slightest suspicion that they are real contractions, a doctor must be contacted.
