Feeling contractions in pregnancy is normal as long as these are sporadic and decrease with rest. In this case, this type of contraction is a training of the body, as if it were a "test" of the body for the time of childbirth.
Usually these training contractions begin after 20 weeks of gestation and are not very strong and can be confused with a menstrual cramp. These contractions are not worrisome if they are not constant, nor very strong.
Signs of contractions in pregnancy
Symptoms of contractions in pregnancy:
- Pain in the lower abdomen, as if it were a stronger menstrual cramp than normal;
- Pain in the form of a stitch in the region of the vagina or the bottom of the back, as if it were a renal crisis;
- The belly becomes very hard during the contraction, which lasts at most 1 minute at a time.
These contractions can arise several times during the day and at night, and the closer to the end of the pregnancy, the more frequent and stronger they become.
How to relieve contractions in pregnancy
To lessen the discomfort of contractions in pregnancy it is advised that the woman:
- Stop what you were doing and
- Breathe in slowly and deeply, concentrating only on breathing.
Some women report that walking slowly helps to reduce discomfort, others say that getting squatted is better, and so there is no rule to follow, what is suggested is for the woman to find out which position is most comfortable at the moment and stay in it whenever the contraction comes.
These small contractions in pregnancy do not harm the baby, nor the routine of the woman, since they are not very frequent nor very strong, but if the woman perceives that these contractions are getting more intense and frequent, or if there is loss of blood she you should go to the doctor as it may be the beginning of labor.
