Medically reviewed by Andrea L. Braden, MD Key Takeaways Labor contractions can feel like intense cramps or pressure.Braxton-Hicks contractions do not follow a pattern and may stop with activity.Early ...

Some women who have complications during their pregnancy need a CST, although the test is much less common than it once was. More often, you would get a nonstress test or a biophysical profile. If ...

Carla Tardi is a technical editor and digital content producer with 25+ years of experience at top-tier investment banks and money-management firms. Robert Kelly is managing director of XTS Energy LLC ...

Guys, there is so much to look forward to about pregnancy and birth: the adorable socks, that thing babies do when they grab your finger, and, you know finally getting that other living thing out of ...

Muscle contraction is the tightening, shortening, or lengthening of muscles when you do some activity. It can happen when you hold or pick up something, or when you stretch or exercise with weights.

A gush of water, being doubled over in pain, the head of your baby crowning. These are things many women picture when they think of labor. However, for most laboring women, these things take time and ...

A concentric contraction is a type of muscle activation that causes tension on your muscle as it shortens. As your muscle shortens, it generates enough force to move an object. This is the most ...

You've been monitoring your contractions, feeling each one get more intense, and waiting to finally meet your baby, and then, they just stop. The room feels still, and you're confused about what ...

If you are close to your due date, there are some things you may want to avoid if you don’t want to trigger contractions. Dehydration is one of the main causes of false and true labor contractions.