Every woman during her pregnancy will have the expected contractions that they will indicate the sign of a possible delivery. Contractions Braxton Hicks They may manifest themselves, but they are not responsible for causing the birth of the baby.
As pregnancy develops many women you will experience infinite sensations. Being able to differentiate each of the changes or detect any indication will be key to determining how you have to assess its status. Knowing how contractions manifest will be important to differentiate whether you are in labor or not.
What are contractions?
Are the involuntary movements that occur in the area of the uterus that can indicate the indication that the baby is born. The mother will notice a strong pressure on her entire belly that will be rhythmically accompanied by a pause or relaxation.
The uterus will form everything the muscular sac that surrounds the fetus. It will do the function of contracting or hardening in order to prepare the work of the expulsion of the baby. If this occurs early, it may indicate that it is a premature birth. Otherwise, when they are not of great intensity or are not rhythmic, it may be Braxton-Hicks contractions.
In order to differentiate some contractions from others, it must be recognized that labor contractions they will be performed rhythmically. The intensity of this movement will be increasing and will occur between 3 contractions every 10 minutes. Strong pain will be felt in the suprapubic area that will radiate to the lower back and may manifest for hours.
Why do contractions occur?
At the time of delivery, a series of mechanisms are activated that together will help the expected moment to occur. During this instant hormones are one of the responsible parties to accommodate the baby's birth and contractions.
Oxytocin it is the best known hormone at the time of delivery. It will be responsible for promoting the entry of calcium into the cells and will even be present during lactation. She is in charge of producing muscle contraction.
Estrogens They will help as receptors for the rest of the hormones and will be an essential protein for muscle contraction. Progesterone it will be present during pregnancy, but not at delivery. Its level will drop when the time comes and during pregnancy it will be responsible for preventing misplaced contractions.
Prostaglandins they are also just as important as oxytocin. They are formed within the membranes of the placenta and will be present in the uterus itself, enveloping the fetus.
Each and every one of these hormones have a different function and are essential so that the baby is born. During this process the cervix will begin to be shorter and to dilate in a large proportion so that it can release the fetus. Also the contractions will cause it to occur the baby's advancement into the pelvic canal, modifying the cervix and pelvic bones. In this way and with the push of the mother, expulsion will occur and facilitate.
Braxton-Hicks contractions
These types of contractions too are caused by the hormone oxytocin. This hormone being present throughout the pregnancy will also cause these involuntary movements to occur. They can be created by standing for a long time, by putting great pressure on the belly, or without anything apparent.
They appear and do not become very painful and do not even become rhythmic so there is no need to worry. Contractions can appear throughout pregnancy and will increase in the last weeks of pregnancy. When the expected moment arrives, they will differ from those of childbirth because they will be a lot more intense and will begin with a rhythm of pressure and relaxation. In order to alleviate false contractions, you just have to relax and rest so that its movement stops.