Prodromal Labor is Just a False Start

There are a lot of uncertainties with pregnancy and labor is no different. Every woman experiences a different one. Even the same woman will have a different experience with every pregnancy. How long it can last and how painful it is depends on the woman and the baby. You have to roll with the punches. Prodromal labor is one of those punches.

This type of labor can be confusing to any mother but especially a first time mother who has no idea what a real contraction feels like yet. This type of labor has many of the same manifestations of the real thing. The mother will feel contractions. The difference is how painful those contractions are and the timing of them. Prodromal contractions are not as severe and they will occur irregularly lasting different amounts and different or not any interval at all.

There are some mothers that say if you are having them you can simply walk around and they will subside. It seems as if light physical activity will make the symptoms lighter or disappear all together. These types of contractions can disappear as quick as they can come on. There are a few other factors that can indicate whether or not this is the real deal.

If the contractions are located mostly in the abdomen it is probably not real labor. Real labor pains usually radiate from the front to the back and not located within just the abdomen. Prodromal labor usually is not accompanied by the bloody show, any discharge of the mucus plug or breaking water.

All of these pre-labor contractions are your bodies way of preparing it for childbirth. The contractions are workouts for your cervix. Your body is preparing your muscles in your cervix for the baby that is to follow in the coming weeks. Sometimes these contractions can be very painful. Sometimes these contractions aren’t even noticed. They have also been called Braxton-Hicks contractions. It does not matter what name that give them the point is the same.

That point is even though it is not time to deliver the baby it is getting close. Your body is preparing itself for the big event. The best defense that you have during this time is to try to remain calm. You body is doing its job to prepare you so you should relax and let it do its thing. Understand that this is just another phase of your pregnancy and there is nothing to worry about. The best thing for you to do is to continue about your regular routine and to try and not let prodromal labor disrupt you if you can.

However, if you still feel like something is wrong don’t be afraid to call or visit your doctor. You will feel some strange things in your body during pregnancy never felt before. If this is your first pregnancy being sure that these sensations are normal is a acceptable precaution. No one knows your body better than you. So be informed but still listen to your own instincts.