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Labor Watch

Contractions start out short and mild in early labor but increase in duration and intensity as labor progresses. The frequency of contractions is measured by the time between the start of one contraction and the start of the next, and includes both the duration of the contraction and the rest period in between. Contraction intensity increases from a mild menstrual cramp feeling in early labor to a very strong intensity late in labor.

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136 views1 page

Labor Watch

Contractions start out short and mild in early labor but increase in duration and intensity as labor progresses. The frequency of contractions is measured by the time between the start of one contraction and the start of the next, and includes both the duration of the contraction and the rest period in between. Contraction intensity increases from a mild menstrual cramp feeling in early labor to a very strong intensity late in labor.

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xxtrix pea
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Labor Watch

Contractions – is a rhythmic tightening of the musculature of the upper uterine segment that begins
mildly and becomes very strong late in labor

The duration of the uterine contraction is the time from the beginning of one contraction to the end of
that same contraction

During labor, the duration of the contractions will start out short (25 to 35 seconds long) and ultimately
get to 70 – 90 seconds long.

Real contractions follow a consistent pattern, while Braxton-Hicks contractions vary in duration and
frequency.

FREQUENCY

The frequency of the contractions is measured from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning
of the very next. This not only includes the duration of one contraction, but also the rest period between
the two.  So if you have a contraction at 8 pm and it lasts for 60 seconds, and then you have another
contraction at 8:15 pm, the contractions have a duration of 60 seconds and a frequency of 15 minutes.

INTENSITY

The intensity of the contractions also changes as labor progresses.  Early labor contractions are often
described as mild menstrual cramps.  Contractions in later labor, have been described by some stand-up
comedians as feeling like your lower lip was stretched up over your head!  While this analogy is
humorous, it is true that with normal labor, the intensity of the contractions does increase, and this is a
good sign that labor is progressing well.

INTENSITY

Mild - the uterus is contracting but does not become more than minimally tense (tip of the
nose)
Moderate - the uterus feels firm (chin)
Strong - the contraction is so intense that the uterus feels as hard as wood at the peek of
contraction (forehead)

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