Only definite articles contract with à and de. The direct object pronouns le and les do not contract. If you’re not having regular contractions signaling preterm labor, try calming the cramps by drinking plenty of water, taking a warm bath, emptying your bladder and breathing rhythmically. The fear grows because of the fact that the nutrient environment of the child may grow old” and be insufficient for the baby to stay alive in the uterus: the fetus may die and the contractions may never start.

The contractions are pushing your baby down and opening your cervix (entrance to the womb), ready for your baby to go through. Contractions may come one on top of another, so you have less of a break in between. Towards the end of your pregnancy, you may have regular contractions that don’t immediately lead to changes in your cervix or progress to labor.

For a …