Pre Labor vs. True Labor

This information from our Bradley Method workbook is helping me get through the waiting game, hope it will prove interesting to those of you out there waiting with me.

And to answer your question, "No, we have not had the baby yet..."

Don't Pay Attention Too Soon

Most women experiece many series of contractions throughout the weeks and months prior to their actual labors. These natural pregnancy contractions are an important and beneficial part of your body's preparation for birth. It is often a challenge late in pregnancy to determine whether the contractions you are experiencing are natural pregnancy contractions (NPC), which mean your body is preparing for labor, or natural labor contractions (NLC), which mean you are in labor.

It is important you don't waste your precious energy getting all excited and perhaps losing sleep over the natural pregnancy contractions. These NPC's are a very important part of your body's preparing itself for labor, but are nothing to be alarmed about. Generally, you should not concern yourself with contractions until they are: 10 minutes apart or less, lasting approximately 60 seconds, and are strong enough that you don't move or talk during contractions. These natural labor contractions should gradually become stronger and closer together, and often continue, regardless of change of activity. To get an idea of how strong your contractions are you can ask yourself, "If I were in the middle of the street and a contraction started, would I have to stop for the contraction?"

Hopefully I won't be in the middle of the street when I (finally) ask myself that question. Or maybe I should ask the age old, "Why did the pregnant lady cross the road?"

hmmm?

"Because there was ice cream waiting on the other side!"

Posted by Molli at September 20, 2002 04:04 PM