The thought of seeing your little gives you the strength to face labour. When the time finally comes, you just cannot; you are nervous and excited at the same time. When you have contractions, you will think that finally, the time has come, however, if you are having contractions that are far too irregular before you have come to a full term pregnancy, you will need to hold off on the excitement as you might be experiencing prodromal labour.
Prodromal labour starts and stops before active labour begins; it is considered to be early points in true labour. It has earned the name ‘false labour’, however, that is not true. Prodromal labour can start and stop at the same time each day, and it is easily mistaken for true labour. Hence, expecting mothers rush to the hospital. The word ‘prodromal’ is derived from a Greek word meaning precursor. Hence, this labour can appear hours, weeks, or even days before the actual labour starts. It can even last from a few days to up to a month.
Researchers have not yet identified the exact cause of prodromal labour. However, many agree that it is mostly because of the body’s way of preparing itself for active labour. There are several things that may cause prodromal labour to begin.
If you have an uneven pelvis or any kind of uterine abnormality, it could lead to prodromal labour.
The chances of prodromal labour increases if your baby is in the breech position. The uterus tries to bring the baby into the right position by means of contractions, however, if it doesn’t work, then it stops automatically.
If you have a history of many previous pregnancies, it could be the reason why the uterus relaxes or changes.
Like in most cases, fear and anxiety can have a negative impact on the way things work. If you have any kind of negative emotion about your pregnancy or for any other reason, it could impact your uterus.
Knowing the symptoms of prodromal labour can help you identify it when it happens. You should bear in mind that each pregnancy and labour is different and so the rules are not hard and fast. Here are some symptoms to look out for:
Prodromal labour begins in the third trimester, during the last month of pregnancy. This is because the body is preparing itself for the task. Contractions usually happen around the time of the due date but do not result in the birth of your baby.
The contractions experienced during prodromal labour are fairly regular and are around five to ten minutes apart from one another. Contractions usually last for about a minute.
Prodromal labour is often taken to be Braxton-Hicks contractions, but they are not the same. Let us look at some differences between the two:
Prodromal labour is considered to be the early stages of active labour, but it comes and goes. Contractions in prodromal labour occur within a span of five minutes and with a period in which the contractions stop. However, in active labour contractions don’t stop. As contractions get intense, it results in childbirth. If your cervix has diluted over 4 cm, then the labour will not stop and will continue until birth.
It might sound strange, but prodromal pain can help you in the following way:
A lot of women experience prodromal labour in their pregnancies. However, it can be managed if you know how. Most experts recommend that you try to rest or keep yourself relaxed as stress and anxiety may lead to prolonged prodromal labour. Here are some steps to help you pull through:
Prodromal labour can cause many people to have so many questions, so here are some of the frequently asked questions on the topic:
As prodromal labour can take place any time during the last month of your pregnancy, you might think that the baby is coming soon. However, this is not the case, prodromal labour actually prepares your body for the actual event. There is no way to really know how to turn prodromal labour into active labour as labour and birth can be very unpredictable and are different for different people.
The contractions experiences during this time will be different for everyone; they can be either mild or strong. Expect to feel pelvic or back pressure and a tightening in the abdomen.
If you have any concerns about the contractions, you should call your doctor as it can sometimes be difficult to tell if you are experiencing false labour or active labour.
Do not feel discouraged if you experience prodromal labour; it is totally normal. It is not a sign of active labour, but your body at least gets prepared for the same.