Pre-Labor Pain True Labor Or False

For pregnant women, having those uterine contractions is really a great feeling because the more and more you experience them, it simply means that you are almost in the finish line of delivering your baby. However, once you reach the 32nd to 36th week, the kind of contractions you experience may be confusing if they are either true labor or false labor pains.

Below are the differences between true labor pains and false labor pains. Such facts can help you discern between the two and avoid getting anxious about any pending or emergency deliveries.

• Pre-labor pains that do not increase in duration, intensity, and frequency are considered not to be true labor pains. It would be best to observe the pain felt once contractions occur rather than easily jumping into a conclusion right away.
• Once you experience labor pains, take note if there is a regular interval between the pain occurrences. If the interval is regular, then it is true labor pain that you are experiencing.
• The interval and frequency of these pain occurrences as well will increase if they are true labor pains.
• Once you experience labor pains, try to perform minimal activities such as walking or short range of motion exercises. If the pain subsides during or after such exercises, then the pain you are experiencing is false labor. True labor pains do not subside even with the use of exercises or activity.
• For the location of the pain, false labor pains are centered in the mother’s abdomen or pelvic area only. However, true labor pains would radiate. The mother would feel movement of pain from the back to the front of her abdominal region and pelvic region.
• For the intensity of the pain, false labor pains are week. However, true labor pains are increasing and of greater intensity. The differences here may not be the obvious or easy to distinguish for mothers who are having there first delivery, which is why it is important to undergo regular discussions with your obstetrician regarding monitoring pregnancy experiences.

In cases where you are not sure about the pre-labor pains that you are experiencing, it would be best to visit or seek medical attention from an obstetrician in order for such experiences to be thoroughly explained and discussed to you and your husband.