What Is a Contraction Calculator and How Does It Work
In this Article
A contraction is synonymous with every woman who is in the family way. One of the most prominent and reliable signs is that of experiencing contractions. A pregnant woman starts experiencing them from about the fourth month of her pregnancy. During a contraction, a woman experiences the tightening and relaxing activity of her uterus muscles. Contractions are known to become more frequent as you approach the date of giving birth. The intensity of each contraction indicates how actively your body is working towards dilating the cervix for a smooth passage of the baby.
What Is Contraction During Labor?
A contraction calculator is also popularly referred to as a tracker or timer. It provides you with accurate measurements and timing of the contractions you experience. Measuring the time frame and the frequency indicates the precise stage of pregnancy labor. This is easy to operate and can be used by every expectant mother within the comfort of her home. A majority of first-time-to-be mothers get confused with the type of contractions they experience. Most women begin to experience irregular contractions in the fourth month of pregnancy. These are pain-free but make the abdomen feel quite tight, which can cause discomfort. These are false contractions and are the result of fatigue or dehydration. Better known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, a woman can drink a lot of water, rest, and have a frequent change of position.
What Is Contraction Calculator?
A Contraction calculator gives an insight into all contractions which pregnant women experience starting from their fourth month of pregnancy. These details enable the women to understand the right timing for visiting a hospital.
What Are Preterm Labor Contractions?
Preterm labor contractions are often experienced after the fifth month or 20th week of pregnancy. These enable the cervix to expand and stretch before the mother reaches the normal time frame of nine months (40 weeks). A woman often experiences a contraction every ten to twelve minutes in an hour. Cramps, pelvis pressure, lower backache, and various digestive issues are some of the conditions experienced by a woman with such contractions. The woman’s abdomen undergoes a tough texture.
Preterm labor can induce the woman in question to give a premature birth before nine months, which impacts the baby’s health. A woman begins to experience real contractions at the 40th week of her pregnancy. Real contractions occur at intervals of five minutes and tend to get more painful and intense as the time of delivery approaches.
How Does a Contraction Calculator Work?
A contraction calculator can be an accurate tool to measure and track the length of contractions and how apart they occur. But how does it work? Let’s find out!
- It would be best to hit the start button as soon as you experience the start of a contraction and hit the stop button when it subsides.
- The time difference between the two activities provides you with the correct measurement of your contraction.
- Using a contraction calculator lets you understand if the contractions follow a specific pattern.
How to Time Contractions?
The benefits of timing contractions clarify whether the contractions are false or real labor ones. False ones are irregular, and you will not find their frequency increasing over time. The true labor contractions increase in frequency and grow more intense. Timing of contractions plays a key role as it helps you understand which stage of labor you are experiencing, and it gives you an insight into how well your labor is progressing.
- Timing contractions has become very easy with the various handy devices explicitly created.
- The simplest way to time labor contractions is to jot down the details, and you can record the information on a writing pad.
- You can note down the exact time of the start of a contraction, its duration, and when it ends. Once you have availed of measurements of at least two contractions, the device showcases the frequency of your contractions.
- Once you start monitoring your contractions, you can also identify if they are following a specific pattern.
- Contractions lasting between 45-60 seconds at intervals of three to five minutes indicate medical attention, and you must consult your doctor or visit the hospital at the earliest.
A Contraction calculator is a handy device that apprises a pregnant woman about the false and real contractions she experiences. It also aids your family doctor in assessing the situation better and guides you on the timing of heading to the hospital.
Also Read:
Reverse Due Date Calculator
Calculating Pregnancy Due Date
Contraction Stress Test while Pregnant
