Medically reviewed by Andrea L. Braden, MD Key Takeaways Labor contractions can feel like intense cramps or ...

Could that weird cramp in your belly be the start of labor—or is it just another bout of indigestion? Maybe it's the real deal, or maybe it's just Braxton Hicks. Can you even have contractions before ...

• Contractions (abdomen tightens like a fist). • Change in discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from vagina). • Pelvic pressure (the feeling that baby is pushing down). • Low, dull bachache. • Cramps ...

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed new imaging technology that can produce 3D maps showing the magnitude and distribution of uterine contractions in ...

There's a big learning curve when it comes to pregnancy. For many expecting parents, just thinking about contractions can be nerve-wracking because they are associated with pain and the start of labor ...

If your contractions come regularly every 5 to 10 minutes, it's time to call your doctor. Watch for signs like your water breaking or bloody vaginal discharge, which indicate labor might be starting.