Mom2Mom Podcast

45 | Is It False Labor or Prodromal Labor? What Your Body Is Actually Doing

Stephanie Sinclair

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0:00 | 14:33

If you've been having contractions that feel completely real and then just stop, you are not imagining it. And you are not doing anything wrong.

Prodromal labor is one of those experiences that doesn't get talked about nearly enough, and yet so many people go through it feeling confused, defeated, and alone. This episode is for anyone currently in it, anyone who has been through it, and anyone who wants to be prepared.

Stephanie and Nikki break down exactly what prodromal labor is, why it happens, and most importantly how to cope with prodromal labor when it feels like your body is playing tricks on you.

We cover:

  • What prodromal labor actually is and how it differs from Braxton Hicks
  • Why your body is not broken, it is preparing
  • The most common causes including baby's position, pelvic alignment, and emotional stress
  • Why we prefer the term pre-labor over false labor
  • Practical tools to help you rest, recover, and stay grounded
  • When to lean on your team and what that support can look like
  • Why distraction might be your best friend right now

We also want to say this clearly. Prodromal labor is hard. The feelings of frustration, exhaustion, and discouragement that come with it are completely valid. This phase will pass, and your body is working even when it doesn't feel like it.

Items Mentioned During the Episode: 

  • Spinning Babies for the fetal positioning techniques section
  • The Miles Circuit has its own dedicated website
  • Dip the Hip is actually hosted on the Spinning Babies site, not One Strong Mama. The transcript attributes it to One Strong Mama but the technique lives on Spinning Babies. Worth double checking with Stephanie and Nikki which link they want to use. 
  • One Strong Mama is a prenatal exercise program site, so we can still link it when the program is mentioned generally

Blog: https://www.how2mom.com/prodromal-labor/



Thank you so much for listening to the Mom2Mom Podcast! This podcast is meant to empower women and bring the community together through storytelling and education. Here, you will find encouragement, support and community. We are your community. And we’re so happy to have you!

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xoxo, Stephanie

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