WeMoms
12 Mar 2024

Childbirth: how to recognize a false labor?

At nine months of pregnancy, many mothers-to-be interpret their contractions as the beginning of labor, but these contractions can be misleading.

  • When you reach the 37th week of pregnancy, you are impatient and in a hurry to hold your baby in your arms.
  • Contractions might wrongly convince you that you are in labor and make you rush to the maternity ward. In case of false labor, you might be disappointed: your cervix won't be opened, and the midwife will tell you to go home and keep warm.
  • The contractions you felt are called “Braxton Hicks contractions”.
  • They are more or less painful and give the sensation that labor has begun, but they are irregular and do not increase in intensity.
  • Generally, a warm shower or bath helps to calm these contractions.
  • But if you have any doubts, you are always welcome to go to the maternity ward where you will be examined by a midwife who will perform a vaginal exam to check the cervix.
T
Tatiana
9 Dec 2023

And we’re home ! Baby girl tricked us ! Doctors said it was false labor but everything looked and sound good ! They did give me both steroids shots for her lungs just in case 🥺🩷

7 comments
C
Cassie
Thank God 🙏
9 Dec 2023

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Tatiana
Right 😮‍💨! Thank you 🙏🏽
9 Dec 2023

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Samantha
18 Nov 2023

Has anyone else gone through false labor I was having contractions from 7am till 1 am all day yesterday and got discharged from the hospital cuse I wasn’t dilating thank god cuse he would have came way to early but lord that was awful 😩😭 and to think that’s nothing close to actual labor I’m not ready 🤣💕

7 comments
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Taline
Braxton Hicks fool you every time. Lol I've went thru it but didn't go to the hospital I knew it was false as I was 3 pregnancy's inn 😂😂 but you got this and it does hurt like hell.
18 Nov 2023

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Samantha
I’ve had Braxton hicks before and knew it wasn’t that the doctor told me I was contacting and had to give me meds to stop it so I wouldn’t go into early labor thankfully we got it stopped but definitely hurt like hell lol 😆
18 Nov 2023

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Nicole
21 Aug 2023

I been having a lot of false labor contractions and they been pretty painful dr said with me having those they can easily turn into true contractions and put me into true labor I’m in pain from them just about everyday I’m so ready to have my little man 😩

5 comments
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Takeisha
I’ve been having them for weeks, I haven’t really said much to my dr but I did go to the ER twice. I’m only 33wks though. I see see your 36. Take it easy as much as possible but your in the safe zone 🥰.
21 Aug 2023

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Nicole
I had to go on maternity leave from my job because it was making things worse now I sit all day and walk a little bit through out the day and still wind up having them through out the day he was hoping he would come over the weekend with as many as I been having 😩 you take it easy also your almost there as well 🥰
21 Aug 2023

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Paris
30 Jun 2023

I’ve been to the hospital 3 times now , and it’s false labor I’m only dilated 1cm but the contractions are so bad

3 comments
A
Amanda
I know it's hard but walk through the contractions it'll help you dilate!! ❤️
30 Jun 2023

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Breanna
Same here I’m only 2cm but the way my contractions killing me you’ll think it’s time 🤦🏽‍♀️
30 Jun 2023

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Jasmine
28 Jan 2023

False labor Tuesday, water broke Wednesday, in labor for 2 days until they find out at 7cm dilated that her heartrate keeps going down everytime I have a contraction smh emergency c-section finds out her cord was wrapped around her whole body...... Beautiful babygirl enters this world at 12:54 😍 happy and healthy!!

2 comments
K
Krys
Congratulations 🎉🎉 I bet she’s beautiful
28 Jan 2023

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B
Briana
Congratulations 🥳
28 Jan 2023

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Taylor
10 Dec 2022

Now this baby just playing with me 🥲. Up all night with what I’m guess was false labor because I woke up this morning feeling completely fine

2 comments
H
Hali
Yep that's pretty much what it is, been doing it for over a week
10 Dec 2022

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T
Taylor
When’s your due date? Mine was yesterday 😩
10 Dec 2022

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krista
21 Nov 2022

Had contractions for a while last night, 10-15 minutes apart for a few hours then it stopped :( guess it was false labor. Woke up bummed out.

1 comments
F
Fatima
Was in the same boat girl
21 Nov 2022

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Julia
19 Oct 2022

False labor signs 🤦🏻‍♀️ went to the hospital and got sent home 😔 I really thought I was having contractions, still only 1cm dilated

1 comments

A
Abigail
18 Sep 2022

These false labor pains make me so tired and dizzy. Not sure if I should talk to my doctor about it or just being overdramatic. I normally have back pain so that don't help much. #37weekspregnant #general #falselabor

2 comments
m
minty
I am 38 weeks and been experiencing the same thing back is killing me mostly
18 Sep 2022

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Kim
I'm 36wks and AGREED I've been sooo tired and light headed myself .... The cramps(Braxton Hicks) are hitting me left and RIGHT they take my breath away
18 Sep 2022

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Katelynn
8 May 2022

pretty sure i had a false labor or “prodromal” labor? anybody else experience this?

2 comments

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