And, of course, they prevent bacteria from entering the vagina by avoiding a vaginal exam. Keep in mind that there's no such thing as a dry birth. One third of the liquid is replaced every hour. Contractions Contractions are the tightening and relaxation of your uterine muscles. Contractions usually start at your back and radiate to the front, making the abdomen very hard to the touch.
Some women say that they feel the contractions in the lower back area.
Others go through severe menstrual cramps or gas pains that you might confuse with flu symptoms of some sort of intestinal problem. A contraction gradually builds until it reaches a peak or its strongest point and then subside, causing many women to describe it like a wave. As you think about timing contractions, time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. One of the easiest ways to time them is to write down the time each contraction starts. You can also write down how long the contraction lasts.