Anyone who hears the term "labour" probably first thinks of the Labour pain. That is obvious. The origin of the word "labour pains" from Middle High German also goes back to the term for pain or suffering. The fact that labour pains also cause pain is actually just an unpleasant side effect. More importantly, labour pains fulfil a variety of important functions. And they bring you closer, step by step, to the moment when you can finally hold your baby in your arms. That's a wonderful goal!
There are different types of labour pains, each of which has an important role to play before, during and after delivery. For example, they prepare your body for the birth (training contractions) or ensure that your cervix dilates (opening contractions).
However, all types of labour have one thing in common: the uterine muscles contract rhythmically. However, how intensely a woman perceives this and feels it as painful varies greatly from person to person and depends on various factors. What is tolerable for one woman may exceed the pain tolerance limit for another. These differences are completely normal and okay, because every woman and every birth is unique.
Here I would like to introduce you to the different types of labour so that you can better classify their tasks and intensities.
Labour before the birth
Exercise labour: This type of labour prepares your uterus for the birth and trains it for its "big day": it practices.
Also known as Braxton-Hicks contractions or wild contractions, practice contractions occur between around the 20th and 35th week of pregnancy. This is common and nothing to worry about, especially as this type of labour does not open your cervix. Some pregnant women are not even aware of training contractions because they are usually almost painless.
However, you may also feel a slight pulling sensation that is somewhat similar to menstrual cramps. Many pregnant women also feel their belly tighten for 30 to 60 seconds during an exercise contraction and then relax again. This can occur in irregular labour at intervals of up to three times an hour. However, if contractions are accompanied by bleeding or discharge or occur more frequently than three times an hour or ten times a day, please consult your midwife or doctor.
Early labour: This type of labour is a warning sign that the pregnant woman's body is signalling that she may be taking on too much physically or emotionally. In addition to excessive demands and stress, a vaginal infection, weak cervical tissue and a malfunctioning placenta or uterus can also trigger early labour.
These uterine contractions, also known as preterm labour, occur before the 36th week of pregnancy and cause the cervix to open. Preterm labour is regularly felt as a pulling pain in the back or abdomen and can be felt three times an hour or more at regular intervals. The intervals between contractions can also become shorter. There may also be discharge, which can be watery or bloody.
Always contact your midwife or doctor if you have preterm labour. It is important to clarify whether it is actually premature labour - or just harmless training contractions.
In early labour, (high-dose) magnesium is often prescribed, which has an antispasmodic effect. In some cases, however, labour-inhibiting medication is also required. It is now important for the pregnant woman to take it easy. This does not mean strict bed rest - but physical and emotional stress should be avoided at all costs.
Preterm labour: They prepare your body and your child for the birth and announce it: It won't be long now until it starts!
This type of labour usually occurs from around the 36th week of pregnancy - and sometimes a little earlier if it is not the first birth. Preterm labour does not open the cervix. They make themselves felt in irregular They can become noticeable at regular intervals and can also disappear completely. This type of labour can often be felt as a pulling sensation in the groin and/or back. You may also feel increased pressure on your bladder.
If you are unsure whether they are "real" contractions, you can find out with a simple test: A warm bath in the tub reduces pre-labour contractions and usually stops them completely. "Real" labour pains, on the other hand, are intensified by the bath. ATTENTION: Please only do this test if you are not alone at home, as the warm bath can lead to circulatory problems!
Even if you move and walk around, pre-labour contractions will weaken again. However, if you have any doubts about the type of labour you are experiencing, contact your midwife.
Lowering labour: Their task is to bring your baby into the optimal birthing position. This means that the lowering contractions cause the baby's head to slide lower into your pelvis. The changed position of the baby also causes your entire belly to drop slightly. Most pregnant women find this a relief because they can breathe and eat better again without it "pinching". However, if your baby's head is sitting in your pelvis, it can put noticeably more pressure on your pelvic floor. This is also normal.
If you experience contractions from the 36th week of pregnancy onwards, they can sometimes be a little more painful. In this case, use the techniques you learnt in your antenatal class. However, contractions are not yet "real" labour pains, i.e. they do not open the cervix.
To determine which type of labour you are experiencing, you can do the same bath test as for preterm labour. The same applies to false labour pains: a warm bath will not intensify them. CAUTION: In this case too, only do the test when you are not alone at home!
If the contractions are accompanied by persistent bleeding - do not hesitate to go straight to hospital.
Labour pains during birth
Opening labour: They can signal to you: "Here we go!" Labour begins gradually. However, there are other signs that labour is about to begin. You can find out what these might be and when you should make your way to your place of birth here. here read more.
The first (and longest) stage of labour is the so-called opening phase. During this stage, the contractions ensure that your cervix gradually opens up to 10 centimetres. Until it has reached a width of four to six centimetres and the cervix has passed, this is known as the Latency phase. The corresponding contractions can make themselves felt in different ways from the 37th week of pregnancy. Some women experience a rather sharp pain in the abdomen, others a pulling sensation in the groin area or lower back. Some also compare labour pains during the latency phase to intense menstrual pains that get stronger and stronger. Some women do not even notice the latency phase.
This early phase is an essential part of the approaching labour. At first, the contractions still come at irregular intervals and with clear breaks in between. Initially, they have little or no effect on the cervix, but tend to make it soft and pliable - an important prerequisite for it to dilate. Nevertheless, some women, especially first-time mothers, sometimes experience these contractions as unpleasant and at least as exhausting, especially if they stretch over a longer period of time. Most pregnant women now feel most comfortable at home in familiar surroundings. There they can - ideally with their birth companion by their side - try out in peace what is good for them during a contraction and how they can best recover and relax during the often long breaks. Some also distract themselves with other activities during this time, which they can easily interrupt for a labour. Others seek a good night's sleep between two contractions, while still others find it important to have another intimate conversation. Don't forget to eat and drink during this phase so that you stay energised and keep your strength up.
Over time, the intervals become more regular and the contractions more intense. The pauses in between will also gradually become shorter. Now you will notice how much the techniques you learnt in your birth preparation course are helping you. At some point, you will start to wonder when it is time to go to the maternity clinic or birth centre. There are various rules of thumb for this:
- One piece of advice is to set off if you feel that you can no longer cope with the situation at home and need the support of a midwife. At the very least, you can talk to your midwife who will be attending the birth or to the delivery room at your maternity clinic on the phone.
- With regard to labour pains, the following applies as a guideline: if they are regular and exert a clear downward pressure, last for about a minute and come every five minutes, first-time mothers can gradually go to the place of birth. It is also important that these contractions are consistent after a warm bath or a long shower. Women who have already given birth to one or more children are more likely to go into labour at 7-minute intervals. And this is how you measure the duration of a labour: Start timing as soon as your belly starts to contract. Stop the measurement when the pain subsides.
Some pregnant women who have already had several noticeable hours of labour are bitterly disappointed when they arrive at the clinic and the vaginal examination reveals that the cervix has only opened two, three or four centimetres: The cervix has only opened two, three or four centimetres. After all! And every labour pushes your baby forward a little bit. In this way, the head also helps to widen the cervix with its pressure on it. This is how the labour progresses.
Transition phase: It is called this because it forms the transition between the opening phase and the expulsion phase. If you have found a way to deal with the ever-increasing contractions up to this point, you may now find yourself in a bit of a "tailspin". This is because the contractions can now be quite irregular and sometimes merge into each other like waves in such a way that you can barely breathe through them. Don't be alarmed if you tremble or feel a little nauseous - this is more typical of the transition phase. It is often perceived by women giving birth as the most stressful time. Many pregnant women now "don't feel like giving birth", feel overwhelmed and "just want to go home". Signals such as these indicate that the cervix will soon be fully open and the labour will begin. Exit phase/expulsion phase begins.
Press contractions: The very strong contractions during the expulsion phase are known as pushing contractions. You can feel them by the irresistible urge to give in to the pressure and push downwards. The midwife will give you the green light at the right moment and help you now so that you can give birth with all your strength. During this phase, your body releases so many pain-relieving substances that you can concentrate fully on your task. Every contraction and every effort brings you one step closer to your child until it is finally born and lies in your arms.
Postpartum labour: They dissolve the Placenta from the uterine wall and can be expelled from the mother's body together with the egg membrane and umbilical cord remnants.
The two to three contractions required for this process begin around 10 to 30 minutes after the birth of the child. The intensity of postpartum labour pains is roughly comparable to more intense menstrual pains. However, many mothers hardly find this phase worth mentioning because they are far too busy with their baby. After a quarter of an hour, the placenta is born. Only at this point is the labour "officially" over.
Labour pains after delivery
Aftermath have two important tasks. On the one hand, they help the uterus to regress. On the other hand, they promote the healing of the wound that the detached placenta has left on the uterine wall and help to stop the bleeding from this wound. This also means that labour pains also help the flow to subside.
Afterpains (not to be confused with postpartum labour) occur in the first few days after the birth. They are triggered by the hormone oxytocin, which is released during breastfeeding, for example. This is why these contractions are also called Breastfeeding labour. Breastfeeding mothers may feel them more strongly - but their uterus also recedes more quickly in this way.
Women who have already had one or more births also often experience more intense contractions, as their uterus has to work harder to recover.
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