How do you time the contractions?

Question

It's my first baby and I'm still not sure on how to time the contractions.. And how will the contractions feel so I know when and what to time?

Answer 1

Timing, you need to know the duration (how long they last) and the span (how much time inbetween). You'll need a watch or wall clock.

When you feel your uterus, your belly, hardening, time how long until it relaxes. In the beginning, they only last about 40 seconds or so. As soon as it relaxes, watch the clock to see how long it takes before it begins to harden again.

You can practice when you have the Braxton/Hicks contractions. These are the usually painless, but noticeable ones. They are pretty irregular, last about 30 seconds, and are about 20 minutes apart. The real ones will start out far apart most of the time, then get closer together and last longer.

You've probably been told to head for the hospital when your contractions are 5 minutes apart and regular. Doesn't really matter how long they last, just that they are coming steadily no matter if you're standing or resting.

It's hard to know how labor will feel for you. It can be different for every woman and every pregnancy for that woman. Basic signs are:

A tightness or discomfort in your back
Contractions, coming steadily, time apart & duration
Contractions that seem to radiate from your back, around your sides and to your front
Combined with pressure in the lower part of your pelvic area.
Your water may or may not break or leak
You may feel like someone's turned the heat up.
Might feel really happy or really irritable, like during PMS

Bottom line is, if you have regular contractions, that are about 10 minutes or so apart and last 30-40 seconds and this doesn't change if you change your position or walk, it's a good idea to call the hospital, if you're delivering there or midwife, if you're delivering at home, to let them know what's going on. They'll go over the situation with you and suggest what to do next. At any rate, they'll have a bit of notice that you're either coming in soon, or they need to come to you soon.

Don't spend too much time watching the clock though. Time the first few and if they continue, time every so often. A watched pot is slow to boil. Good luck. You'll do fine.

Answer 2

Fortunately, the body provides several clues that the onset of labor is approaching.

What Contractions Feel Like


Many mothers describe contractions that occur in early labor as similar to menstrual cramps, or as severe gas pains, which may be confused with flu symptoms or intestinal disorders. Imagine your contractions as looking like a wave. Each contraction will gradually gain in intensity until the contraction peaks, then slowly subside and go away. As your body does the work of labor, it is likely that the time in between contractions will become shorter.

As the strength of each contraction increases, the peaks will come sooner and last longer. There should be some regularity or pattern when timed. Persistent contractions that have no rhythm but are five-to-seven minutes apart or less should be reported to your physician or midwife.

Labor contractions are the periodic tightening and relaxing of the uterine muscle, the largest muscle in a woman's body. Something triggers the pituitary gland to release a hormone called oxytocin that stimulates the uterine tightening. It is difficult to predict when true labor contractions will begin.

Contractions are often described as a cramping or tightening sensation that starts in the back and moves around to the front in a wave-like manner. Others say the contraction feels like pressure in the back. During a contraction, the abdomen becomes hard to the touch. In the childbirth process, the work of labor is done through a series of contractions. These contractions cause the upper part of the uterus (fundus) to tighten and thicken while the cervix and lower portion of the uterus stretch and relax, helping the baby pass from inside the uterus and into the birth canal for delivery


Contraction Duration - Time in seconds from the
beginning of the contraction to the end of the
contraction. (10:31:15 - 10:30:20 = 55 seconds)

Contraction Interval/Frequency - Time in minutes
from the start of one contraction to the start of
the next. (10:35:20 - 10:30:20 = 5 minutes)

Answer 3

Sometimes you'll hear early contractions called "putsy putsy". For me this went on for two days with each of my labors. Not real painful, but can't quite sleep either.

When I was in full labor (fully dialated) my contractions were still a minute apart.

It's common for women to go to the hospital only to be sent home or to "walk the halls" to quicken the labor. So don't worry about that. Thing is if this is your first then you may not want to take any chances because some woman have very short labors.

Answer 4

From the beginning of a contraction to the beginning of the next one. (i.e. Contraction begins at 6:00 p.m. and lasts for 1.5 minutes then subsides. Next contraction begins at 6:10 p.m. Your contractions are 10 minutes apart.)

They feel like Braxton Hicks (your abdomen gets super tight) only with pain (similar to bad menstrual cramps or diarrhea cramps like you'd have with the stomach flu or food poisoning. The more your labor progresses, the more painful they become.

Answer 5

start at the end of one contraction when that one is over start timing during the start of the next one time how long it last for. Then do it again. Good luck

Answer 6

They are like little cramps, that just hurt a little worse. I always timed them from when the last one stops. Word of advice. You can be ready to have the baby, even if your water hasn't broke. You might have already known that, but a lot of women don't. I am a mother of two. Both times I was at 5 cm, and had to have my water broken. Good luck.

Answer 7

A continuous pain counted as one... After a pause it should be another count.. The contraction should felt like something pressing your lower belly..

Answer 8

They feel like period pains but worse