It’s normal to start feeling some contractions around this time in your pregnancy. You might notice a tightening across your belly, but it shouldn’t hurt. Commonly known as Braxton-Hicks, we think of these contractions as healthy practice for your uterus.
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Be alert to contractions that don’t stop or if you have more than six contractions in an hour for more than an hour. That’s a sign of preterm labor and a good reason to call your care provider. Quite often, there’s no explained cause of preterm labor, yet factors like multiples, infections, genetics, diabetes, or high blood pressure sometimes play a role. [1] So let’s focus on what we can control: diet and self-care. Keeping your body healthy goes a long way toward staving off early contractions.
Diet
Lily Nichols, author of Real Food for Pregnancy, focuses on whole foods and ancestral diets and urges pregnant people to cut out processed foods, sugar, and starchy carbs. Learn how to make bone broth and about the importance of fish oil. This nutritious plan can help you have a full-term, healthy pregnancy.
Self-Care
It’s important to manage stress (since it’s likely impossible to avoid it entirely). Drinking water and getting enough sleep and regular exercise go a long way toward reducing stress. Low-impact exercises like walking and swimming are wonderful when pregnant. Prenatal yoga with mindful breath work and movement adds joy. Try the 28-minute yoga flow included in our Spinning Babies® Daily Essentials video (streaming or DVD) for a self-care treat.
