How contractions create pain and pressure A contraction is a coordinated tightening and relaxing of the uterine muscle. During labor, the uterus contracts from the upper portion downward, helping the cervix efface and dilate while gradually moving the baby lower…

Why contractions feel like waves A labor contraction is the uterus tightening and then relaxing. The muscle fibers of the uterus contract to help thin and open the cervix and, later, move the baby downward. Many people describe the sensation…

What false contractions are False contractions are often called Braxton Hicks contractions or practice contractions. They are involuntary tightenings of the uterine muscle that can occur from mid-pregnancy onward, though many people notice them more clearly in the third trimester.…

What irregular contractions usually mean Irregular contractions are uterine tightenings that do not settle into a consistent rhythm. They may appear once or twice, disappear for an hour, return after activity, or cluster in the evening. Many are Braxton Hicks…

What contractions are doing A contraction is a rhythmic tightening and relaxation of the uterine muscle, or myometrium. During labor, these waves create pressure from the top of the uterus downward, helping the cervix become softer, thinner, and more open.…

What Braxton Hicks contractions are Braxton Hicks contractions are intermittent contractions of the uterine muscle that can occur well before labor. They are often described as practice contractions, although that phrase can sound dismissive when the sensations are intense. Physiologically,…

What false contractions mean False contractions are uterine contractions that can feel like tightening, squeezing, menstrual-type cramping, or pressure, but they do not create the sustained cervical change that defines established labor. The term often includes Braxton Hicks contractions, which…

What makes a contraction a labor contraction A contraction is the coordinated tightening and relaxation of the uterine muscle. In late pregnancy, the uterus may contract for many reasons, including normal preparation for birth. What makes true labor contractions clinically…

Why contractions feel different as labor progresses A labor contraction is a coordinated tightening of the uterine muscle, or myometrium. Each contraction helps apply pressure to the cervix and, over time, supports cervical effacement and dilation. Effacement means the cervix…

What contractions are and why timing matters Labor contractions are rhythmic tightening waves of the uterine muscle. Their purpose is mechanical and physiologic: they help efface and dilate the cervix, guide the baby downward, and later help deliver the placenta…