![]() The way this feels will vary greatly from person to person depending on their sensitivity level and tolerance for sensation and pain, existing muscle or postural tension in their body, and the movement, touch or other care they receive while experiencing the contraction.Ĭommon descriptions of spontaneous (non-medicated) contractions include: In this way, the uterus is contracting at various levels of intensity and muscular engagement throughout someone’s reproductive life. This is because the uterus is hormonally regulated, and the hormone that primarily causes labor contractions - oxytocin - is also released when someone orgasms, or during the cramping some people experience during their period. In labor, contractions are quite strong, but people actually have contractions at other times in life too. This self-sustaining process is called the Ferguson reflex. As labor progresses, a feedback loop is created in which oxytocin is released, a contraction occurs, the contraction squeezes the uterus and the fetus, creating more pressure on the cervix, which in turn signals the release of more oxytocin, and the cycle repeats itself. The interaction causes the muscles fibers to twitch, or squeeze. ![]() The squeezing muscles cocooning the fetus help them to descend lower in the womb and rotate position to fit through the angles of the bony pelvis.Ĭontractions are initiated by a chemical interaction that happens at a cellular level in the muscle fibers of the uterus, between a hormone called oxytocin and calcium.Sort of in the way an octopus can change its shape and thickness, this amazing skill of the human body means that more of uterus’ muscular force will be available to push the baby down and out when it’s time to push. As labor progresses the muscular bulk of the uterus starts to consolidate in the upper segment of the uterus.The cervix, the lowest section of the uterus that extends to the vagina, starts to get shorter and soften enough to start dilating, or opening.A contraction is when these muscle fibers squeeze in a dynamic action, exerting force like when you “make a muscle” with your bicep and it bulges out - a differences that the uterus has something precious inside of it, and the three layers squeezing in harmony create a few effects along with the hormones of labor: The wall of the uterus is made up of three layers of muscular fibers - an outer layer whose muscle fibers run longitudinally (up and down), and two inner layers in which the muscle fibers run circularly and obliquely. In fact, the uterine strength it takes to birth a baby makes it one of the strongest parts of human anatomy! It is usually quite small and shaped like an upside-down pear - during pregnancy it becomes much larger - and stronger - to protect a growing fetus and eventually move them out of the womb and into the world. The uterus is an incredible muscular organ that is influenced by hormones and a person’s life cycle of reproductive activity. ![]() Here we describe the basics of contractions for a pregnant or laboring person. When a laboring person is working hard, it’s because their uterus is working hard! That work is called a contraction, and while we associate contractions with labor, contractions are actually a part of life for anyone with a uterus. The 5-1-1 rule is one tool for assessing the difference between warm up contractions and actual labor contractions, and when to contact your prenatal health care provider or birth location. You may be full of anticipation about when your labor will start and what it will feel like. Confused about early labor, stages of labor, active labor, or even supposed “false labor”? Understanding labor contractions and labor patterns is one way to know if you are in labor, when to seek care, and how to support your comfort and safety in birth.
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