About prelabour contractions
How to time contractions
Coping with prelabour contractions

Each stage of the labour is characterised by different types of contractions. During the 1st stage of labour each contraction makes the uterine muscles slightly shorten, and in doing this they pull up the cervix into the lower segment of the uterus. The shortening of uterine muscles decreases the size of the uterine space, so the baby is pushed down and out the vagina (or birth canal).

Waves of contractions start at the top of the uterus (called the fundus) and radiate down the uterus to the cervix. Simultaneously, the lower segment of the uterus is pulled up, to open the cervix.

Image 3-13 shows the action of the uterus contracting.

There is a wide range of variations in labour patterns, because every woman is uniquely different. Early and active 1st stage contractions are usually defined as pains that come every 2, 3, 4 or 5 minutes (timed from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction). They usually last more than 40 seconds and up to 70 seconds each time. Prelabour contractions are usually further apart, shorter in length (or very long eg. 2 minutes) and can often be erratic.

About prelabour contractions

Below are some examples of how prelabour contractions may emerge before the first stage of labour truly begins. These patterns can occur the day you start labour, 2 to 3 days leading up to the day you start seriously labouring, or on and off for 2 to 3 weeks before labour begins......

....as we said.....it is just the beginning.

Prelabour contractions may: