What Do Different Patterns of Contractions Indicate?
The pattern of uterine contractions can provide critical information about the labor process. Regular, strong contractions that occur every 2-3 minutes and last around 60-90 seconds usually indicate active labor. Irregular, weak contractions may suggest early labor or false labor, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions. Hypertonic contractions, which are excessively frequent and strong, may indicate potential complications like uterine hyperstimulation.
