What is false labor

False labor contractions may be erratic, in terms of both time and intensity. They may come every two minutes, then twelve, then seven, for a varied amount of time. You might even be able to sleep through them. Often, prodromal labor contractions are felt mostly in the front of the uterus. Ditto if they cease when you take a bath or shower. Generally, contractions during labor last about seconds, getting longer as labor progresses.

These kind of contractions often require your full focus to get through them, including concentrated breathing. Labor contractions may also be accompanied by increased vaginal discharge or spotting, which is a good sign that your cervix is dilating.

You can read more about other signs of labor HERE. The strength of contractions is also different, and the pain is felt in different places. Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based, not-for-profit system of 24 hospitals includes "virtual" hospital , a Medical Group with more than 2, physicians and advanced practice clinicians at about clinics, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services.

Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in clinical quality improvement and efficient healthcare delivery. Which should I choose? Authors Topics. How do you get to labor and delivery? Practice, practice, practice. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. Signs of Labor. What Is Cord Blood Banking?

View Sources. Cleveland Clinic, True vs. False Labor , January Your Health. Pregnancy Groups. Second Trimester. Third Trimester. Jump to Your Week of Pregnancy. If you experience serious pain or have any unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding, call your doctor.

But if your contractions are mild and irregular, relax for now. Real labor has different symptoms. To learn more, read more about recognizing the signs of labor. Conditions treatments specialties. What are Braxton Hicks contractions? Braxton Hicks contractions are different from labor contractions in several ways.

Move around or take a walk, because motion often stops the contractions.