During contractions, the abdomen becomes rigid. [3] X Research source For some women, the pain stays in the lower back area. Contractions feel a little different for everyone. [4] X Research source At the beginning of labor, most contractions last from 60 - 90 seconds and occur every 15 to 20 minutes. They decrease in duration and increase in frequency as labor draws closer. [5] X Research source
Use a precise timer, rather than a digital clock without seconds. Since contractions often last under a minute, it’s important to be able to time them to the second. Make a chart to help you easily record the data. Create a column titled “Contractions,” one titled “Time Started” and a third titled “Time Ended. " Include a fourth column called “Duration” to calculate how long each contraction lasts, and a fifth column called “Time Between Contractions” to calculate the length of time elapsed between the beginning of one contraction and the beginning of the next one.
Now that the first contraction is over, you can fill in the “Duration” column. For example, if the contraction began at 10:03:30 and ended at 10:04:20, the duration of the contraction was 50 seconds. Record other information about the contraction, such as where the pain began, what it felt like, and so on. This could be useful as the contractions continue and you begin to notice patterns.
Labor contractions get closer together and shorter in duration as the hours pass, while false contractions don’t follow a predictable pattern. Labor contractions continue even if you switch positions or move around, while false contractions may go away after you move. Labor contractions get stronger and more painful over time, while false contractions tend to be weak.
Water breaking. The baby “lightening,” or dropping lower toward the cervix. Passing of the mucus plug. Dilation of the cervix.
