Cramps during pregnancy

Cramps during pregnancy – when do they occur?

Contrary to appearances, labour pains occur much earlier during pregnancy than during the birth itself. In some women they occur as early as the 20th week of pregnancy. These are mostly Alvarez and Braxton-Hicks contractions. They occur about 1-2 times per hour and are manifested by a hardening of the abdomen.

Cramps before birth

Preterm labour usually occurs around the 37th to 38th week of pregnancy. They serve to prepare the uterus for the actual labour pains. In some women, they are so strong that they are mistaken for contractions that announce the impending birth. If the contractions occur earlier, it is always advisable to go to the emergency room to rule out a possible beginning premature birth.

Cramps during pregnancy – Contractions

The labour pains become stronger the longer they last. When they become regular, this is the first stage of labour. It lasts until the cervix is fully dilated. Then labour usually begins to bring the baby into the world. The second stage of labour lasts up to 2 hours in most cases. However, it is important to know that labour does not stop when the baby is born, as it is necessary for the birth of the placenta.

Differences between labour and preterm labour

Labour pains are different from pre-labour pains. One of the main differences is that preterm labour subsides after some time, after a warm bath or after taking diastolic medication. Preterm labour does not subside on its own. This is only possible with the help of so-called tocolysis, which is used, for example, to move the mother to a higher hospital or to administer steroids to speed up the development of the baby’s lungs. Furthermore, the contractions increase in intensity as the birth progresses.

Cramps during pregnancy – when should you go to hospital?

There is no reason to go to hospital immediately when labour starts. However, if the expectant mother feels safer under the care of doctors and midwives, she can go to the emergency room when labour starts. It is also advisable to be examined in case of regular contractions that occur before the 37th week or earlier. A visit to the emergency room is always necessary for bleeding from the genital tract. The same applies if amniotic fluid is leaking in addition to contractions. If it is a normal pregnancy and the expectant mother does not want to go to the hospital right at the beginning of labour, it is advisable to visit the delivery room when the contractions occur regularly about every 7-10 minutes. It is also important to remember that each subsequent birth may be faster, so that multiparous mothers should go to hospital earlier than first-time mothers.