Contractions

Time your contractions. If rest and drinking water make the contractions go away, they are not true labor.  

Go to the hospital when your contractions are every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour. Sometimes the only way to tell if you are truly in labor is by having a vaginal exam to see if there are changes to your cervix.

Timing and frequency of contractions:  

• True labor contractions come at regular intervals. They have a pattern. As time goes on, they get closer together.  Each lasts about 60 or 90 seconds.  
• False contractions do not have a pattern and they do not get closer together. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions.  

Change with movement:

• True labor contractions continue even when you rest or move around.  
• False contractions may stop when you walk or rest. They also may stop with a change of position.  

Strength of contractions:  

• True labor contractions steadily get stronger.  
• False contractions are weak and do not get much stronger. They may start strong and then weaken.  

Location of pain:

• Pain from true labor contractions usually starts in the back and moves to the front.  
• Pain from false contractions usually is felt only in the front.  

If you think you are in labor, please call the office to speak with a nurse. If you are calling after-hours, you will be directed to our after-hours coverage to speak with someone. You may also go to the hospital for evaluation.