If you are already halfway through your pregnancy or a mother already, you 
probably know that contractions are a part of pregnancy. As the baby develops and the due date approaches, the cervix begins to prepare for delivery by having light, unproductive Braxton-Hicks contractions now and then. But how do you know the difference between these contractions and real labor? Here are some tips to keep in mind.
You have regular contractions.
The only difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and the real thing is that real contractions don’t stop over time. Braxton Hicks contractions will usually slow with rest and hydration. But if you begin to feel a regular, organized pattern to your contractions, if you experience six contractions or more an hour, and you sense that the contractions are becoming stronger each time, call your doctor.
You feel increased discomfort.
Every pregnant woman feels some discomfort during the end of her pregnancy. But if you are feeling any increased lower back, abdominal, or pelvic pain for extended periods of time, call your doctor.
You are bleeding.
Very often, women pass a cervical mucus plug (or bloody show) before they give birth. This is no cause for alarm since labor may not begin for a few days still. It is usually a sign that the body is preparing for birth. However, if you experience any actual bleeding, call your doctor.
Your water breaks.
When a woman’s water breaks, it can occur in a sudden gush or a small trickle. Regardless, once the water breaks, it is time to call your doctor and prepare for labor and delivery.
Trying to decipher the changes your body experiences during pregnancy can be overwhelming. If you would like to talk to a nurse, you are welcome to call our free, 24-hour Consult-A-Nurse® service at 1-888-256-7719. For more information about the maternity suites or child birth classes offered at Kendall Regional Medical Center, please visit our website.
Sources:
Labor: When Is it the Real Thing? (Baby Zone)
Labor and Birth (WomensHealth.Gov)
Related Post:
Regular Check-ups for Women
About Kendall Regional
American Heart and Stroke Association
Kendall Regional Medical Center has been given the “Get With The Guidelines” – Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award from The American Heart and Stroke Association. The Association recognize this hospital for achieving at least one year of 85% or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines program quality indicators to improve quality of patient care and outcomes.
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Joint Commission Accreditation
Kendall Regional Medical Center has been awarded the Gold Seal of Approval™ from the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is a leader in the accreditation and certification of health care organizations. Its seal of approval indicates a hospital meets its high performance standards.
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Primary Stroke Center
Kendall Regional Medical Center is a primary stroke center certified by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization, which accredits and certifies more than 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States.
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Chest Pain Center
Kendall Regional Medical Center has received recognition as an Accredited Chest Pain Center (CPC) with Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) by the Society of Chest Pain Centers.
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Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals
Kendall Regional Medical Center is a six time winner of the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® National Benchmark award. Selection is based on an annual study conducted by Thomson Reuters Healthcare (formerly Solucient), which identifies benchmarks for the highest hospital-wide performance in hospitals across the country.
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HealthGrades
Kendall Regional Medical Center is a recipient of the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award - Clinical Excellence for 2009.
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