Babies grow inside the uterus, an organ surrounded by muscles that can tighten or contract. The tightening of these muscles is called a contraction. When contractions happen rapidly and steadily, it is called labor.

Labor leads to the birth of your baby. When it happens three weeks or more before your due date, it is called preterm or premature labor. It is important to know if preterm labor is happening to you.

How will I know if I am having contractions?
You can feel your uterus having contractions. They may or may not be painful, but they cause your belly to feel tight. To see if you are having contractions, lie comfortably on your side and place your fingertips around the belly button area. If you are having contractions this area will be tight and hard for a while then relax and get soft again.

Am I in labor if I am having contractions?
Contractions do not always mean that you are having preterm labor. There are contractions that occur after the 20th week of pregnancy called "Braxton Hicks" contractions. These contractions are often mistaken for real labor, because they can last from 15 seconds to 2 minutes, and can happen one after another. Braxton Hicks contractions are common and are preparing your body for real labor. However, if you have more than five Braxton Hicks contractions in an hour, you need to call your doctor.

How do I time the contractions?
Your doctor will want to know when you begin to have contractions, how long they are lasting, and how often the contractions are occurring.

Use a watch or a clock with a second hand and write down:

• The time the contraction begins
• How many seconds the contraction lasts
• The time the next one starts
• For example:
                    Contraction Starts                     Lasts
                            12:05                             30 seconds
                            12:10                             40 seconds
                            12:15                             40 seconds

When to call the doctor: