Your due date is getting closer and closer. Do you find yourself thinking more and more about what contractions feel like? Are they intense, or is it all manageable? And how can you induce contractions and recognize when labor is starting? In this article, you’ll read everything about the different types of contractions during pregnancy and childbirth.

What are contractions?

The word ‘wee’ literally means ‘pain’. That doesn’t sound very reassuring, but a contraction is simply a tightening of the uterine muscles that, in a way, helps push the baby out of your belly. Without contractions, there is no birth.

How do contractions feel? Their strength and regularity vary depending on the phase of labor. Each type of contraction also has a different function, all aimed at preparing your body for the upcoming birth or helping labor progress. Every woman experiences pain differently, so timing contractions can be quite challenging. Still, it can be helpful to recognize them, because not every contraction necessarily signals the start of labor. When you can identify what you’re feeling, you’ll have more reassurance and can better judge when it’s time to go to the hospital or call the midwife.

Contractions for the birth

Preterm labor

If contractions occur before week 36, this is considered preterm labor. You may have more than three contractions per hour at relatively short intervals, and the pain may increase with each contraction. You may also notice watery discharge or bleeding. It’s important to take these early contractions seriously and inform your doctor or midwife.

Early contractions do not always indicate that birth is imminent, because the cervix typically begins to dilate with five to six contractions per hour. However, these early contractions can be your body’s warning sign that you’re physically or mentally exhausted. That’s why rest is important. Your doctor may also prescribe magnesium to help relieve cramps. To further minimize any potential health risks for you or your baby, your doctor may give you tocolytics. These do the opposite of medications that induce labor and help reduce contractions.

Braxton Hicks contractions or false labor

False contractions (also called Braxton-Hicks contractions or practice contractions) usually occur a few weeks before the actual birth. If you’re wondering what contractions feel like, practice contractions can give you a clear idea—though at first, the sensation may feel unfamiliar. But don’t worry: these contractions are completely normal. From week 20 to week 35, your uterus is essentially “practicing” for the real birth. These contractions can be difficult to time, but they occur no more than three times per hour. They last about 30 seconds to a minute. They are usually painless, so you might not even notice them. However, your belly may become harder and then relax again—a typical characteristic of a false contraction.

If practice contractions occur more than three to four times per hour (or more than ten times per day), or if they are accompanied by bowel movements or bleeding, consult your doctor or midwife for reassurance.

Braxton Hicks contractions and lightening contractions

From the seventh month of pregnancy, around week 36, Braxton Hicks contractions can occur. These are closer to real labor and help prepare your body for the upcoming birth. They are irregular and usually not painful. However, you may feel a pulling sensation in your back and groin or increased pressure on your bladder.

As your due date approaches, you may notice lightening contractions. These are important because they help position the baby’s head in the pelvis, putting your baby in the right position for birth. These contractions are usually quite painful, and you’ll likely feel the pressure of your baby’s head on your pelvis. One small bright spot: if your growing baby bump makes breathing or eating difficult, lightening contractions—and your little one’s new position—can bring some relief.

Because these contractions move your baby’s head into your pelvis, your belly may look noticeably lower from the outside. The countdown has begun, and timing contractions often becomes easier. Birth may also be only a few days away. Are the contractions very painful, and do you find them hard to cope with? Then the breathing techniques you learned in pregnancy yoga may help. A warm bath can also work wonders.

Urination during and after birth

Some women worry that they won’t be able to recognize the different types of contractions and therefore won’t notice when labor truly begins. But we have good and bad news: real labor contractions are noticeably more intense and occur at regular intervals. They’re also more likely to happen around your due date and may sometimes be accompanied by mild diarrhea.

Every woman answers the question “How do contractions feel?” differently. However, most say they could clearly distinguish labor contractions from prodromal contractions.

Contractions

Labor contractions are the starting signal for birth. If you time these contractions, you’ll quickly notice that this type tends to last the longest. From week 37, these contractions dilate the cervix up to a maximum of 10 centimeters. At first, they are irregular, then become more intense and occur every 2 to 10 minutes. Each contraction lasts about 1.5 minutes and, according to many women, feels somewhat like menstrual pain that becomes increasingly intense. Keep an eye on your breathing (breathe calmly and deeply) and try to time the contractions. This way, you’ll have a rough idea of when to go to the hospital or when it’s time to call your midwife.

Labor pains

Once dilation is well underway, your baby’s head sinks further into the pelvis. This creates significant pressure and the urge to push. The contractions are in full swing, and your little explorer begins the first journey: the way out.

When the cervix is fully dilated, pushing contractions follow immediately after the dilation contractions. As soon as you can time contractions that come rapidly one after another, it’s time to push your baby through the birth canal. Timing contractions becomes increasingly difficult, and they are very intense in this final phase. But just a little longer, and you’ll be able to hold your little one. If that isn’t motivation!

Stimulate urination

If there are no contractions or only a few, and the doctor or midwife believes the situation for the unborn baby is better outside the womb than inside, labor can be induced. Inducing contractions can be one method, but the doctor may also decide to use a balloon catheter or hormone pills.

Water births

Immediately after your baby is born, afterpains begin. These last for about 15 minutes and ensure that the placenta, which was connected to your baby during pregnancy, is expelled as well. These contractions right after birth are noticeably milder than pushing contractions, but still comparable to severe menstrual cramps.

Contractions

Your body has been under a lot of pressure. That’s why contractions can still occur for several days after birth. They help the uterus return to its original shape. If you have already given birth to multiple children, afterpains are often more intense because the uterus needs more effort to regain its original shape. Afterpains can also feel stronger while breastfeeding, because the hormone oxytocin is released during nursing.

How do contractions feel and do they hurt?

It’s a question many pregnant women ask: how do contractions feel, and do they hurt a lot? Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to answer. Your pain threshold varies from person to person and depends, among other things, on your physical and mental condition.

Are you tense, and does the thought of giving birth alone make your stomach knot up? Then you might consider taking a HypnoBirthing pregnancy course. These days, many parents feel anxious about birth (partly influenced by the media—who doesn’t know the screaming women in movies?) and women may no longer trust what their bodies are capable of. Timing and managing contractions is no longer guided by natural intuition.

During the course, you practice breathing and relaxation exercises, among other things. Contractions are referred to as waves, which helps soften the association with pain.

When should I go to the hospital?

Especially with a first child, many parents find it difficult to decide when they should go to the hospital or when to inform the midwife during a home birth. Most say they ultimately went in far too early. A good guideline is the interval and duration of the contractions. If, when timing contractions, the time between two contractions is 10 minutes or less and the contractions last longer than 30 seconds, then birth probably won’t be long, and you can go to the hospital.

If you have doubts, call the midwife. He or she can usually tell you whether you need to go to the hospital. In the case of premature rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding, pain in addition to contractions, fever or elevated body temperature, flashes of light, nausea, or dizziness, you should go to the hospital immediately.

The midwife or healthcare staff will check the contractions. They can also determine how much dilation you have, and based on that information, you’ll either be taken directly to the delivery room or need to wait a little longer. If you arrive at the hospital too early, you may be sent back home. That’s not a problem at all: you’ll likely feel relieved and will be better able to handle the upcoming contractions.

Even if the thought of contractions and the pain of childbirth makes you feel a little anxious, remember that each contraction has a purpose and brings your baby one step closer to you. Good preparation and a positive mindset will help you manage the contractions and approach birth feeling a bit more relaxed.