Braxton Hicks contractions What is the difference between a Braxton Hicks contraction and a true labor contraction?

Braxton Hicks contractions
As early as six weeks into all pregnancies, the uterus, which is a large muscle, begins to contract rhythmically. These contractions (called Braxton Hicks contractions or `False labor`) are usually irregular and painless. Because they usually do not cause the cervix to dilate, they do not threaten the pregnancy. They generally last about one to two minutes. While these contractions might be noticed during the second half of pregnancy, some women don't notice them at all.

Why do I have Braxton Hicks contractions?
Throughout the pregnancy, the uterus periodically contracts to facilitate better blood flow through the placenta and the fetus. Braxton Hicks contractions help to strengthen the uterine muscles and prepare them for the normal labor process.

What does a Braxton Hicks contraction feel like?

Braxton Hicks contractions aren't usually painful, just uncomfortable. It feels like a tightening of your belly in your lower abdomen and groin.

When is it getting serious?

Braxton Hicks contractions that tend to increase in frequency and intensity toward the end of the pregnancy may be misinterpreted as contractions of labor and are sometimes referred to as 'false labor' contractions. Women are not usually aware of cervical dilatation, the stretching and opening of the entrance to the uterus, and cervical dilatation can only be measured by a health practitioner during a pelvic examination.

What to Do

When you are experiencing contractions, either painful or painless, that occur more than four times an hour or are less than 15 minutes apart, you should report this activity to your physician or midwife. You should be prepared to answer the following questions:

• When did the discomfort start?
• What is the type and frequency of the contractions?
• What were you doing when the symptoms began?
• Do you have any other signs or symptoms such as:
  • menstrual-like cramps that may come and go
  • abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea
  • backache that is dull and may radiate around toward the abdomen
  • vaginal discharge increase or a noticeable change in color
  • pelvic pressure that is constant or intermittent

While waiting for your provider to return her call, you should:

• Stop whatever activity you were doing when the contractions started
• Lie down with your feet elevated or on your left side
• Drink two or three glasses of water or juice since these contractions can sometimes be brought on by dehydration.

These precautions sometimes cause contractions to subside. If symptoms do not lessen within one hour and you aren't able to get in touch with your health-care provider, you should go to the nearest hospital for further evaluation.

Pre Labor

At some point, normally between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy, something still unknown changes the Braxton Hicks contractions so that they begin to soften and open the cervix, eventually leading to the baby`s birth. If contractions lead to delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy, this is considered premature or preterm labor.

Real labor

Contractions during real labor are more painful and come in a steady rhythm. True labor contractions also become closer together and the pain gets worse.

John Braxton Hicks

(1823–August 28, 1897) John Braxton Hicks was a 19th century English doctor who specialized in obstetrics. He was born in Rye, Sussex and attended Guy's Hospital Medical School from 1841.

Hicks was the first physician to describe the bipolar and other methods of the version of a fetus. In 1872, he described the uterine contractions not resulting in childbirth now known as Braxton Hicks.

Comments: Braxton Hicks contractions

Comments 1 to 24 of about 397.
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m.e.a - 6 days ago.
is it normal for braxton hicks to be REALLY uncomfortable? when i get them i stop breathin properly and my face goes all red. it is very very uncomfortable. its sometimes feels like my belly is gng to explode. is there anythin to calm this down? my belly goes rock hard for 30 secs and then relaxes./

nikosmommy - 8 days ago.
I've definately been having BH contractions (as described in the write-up above). I didn't experience them with my first pregnancy..but I'm sure that this explains the uncomfortable tightening I've been feeling in my lower abdomen. (i'm 25 weeks along).

sunny3 - 8 days ago.
tori and christina : yes it is normal to start feeling them. its just the uterus practicing =]

Tori(a.k.a. Tinkerbell) - 8 days ago.
ok so i'm in week 26..i swear i felt a braxton hicks a couple times after sex the other day which i've been told can bring these on..am i crazy to think that's wat they are? the father says it couldn't be that but on here it says 2nd half of pregnancy...i'm confused? n as it says on here it was not very painful more uncomfortable..could these have been a braxton hicks?

Christina1984 - 18 days ago.
im going on 24 weeks and wondering if its normal to feel braxton hicks already. i never felt them with my 1st. but i have been getting cramps and my stomach was tightening around the top. not very comfortable but not really painful. if i am, does it mean i will have a premature labor since the BH are already being felt?

pot-belly-pig - 18 days ago.
I see that I am not the only confused one on this website. I feel like such a dummy. I am at work currently and have been having 'contractions' all day that woke me this afternoon. they feel like a cramping in my lower abdomen with a 'burning' feeling lower down. I took these steady for about 7 hours and called my OB, he said to sit and see if they suside which them seem to have but as soon as I get up they start back. Not really regular or able to time them since I have been up and busy non-stop. I feel like such a dummy for calling my OB for nothing. Any advise or words of wisdom??

Mommy.D - 19 days ago.
So today I went to the doctor and she did a pap smear on me. It was a little bit painful but now I have slight pain. It's sort of like cramps but it's more like coming from my cervix. I have no clue what it is. Could she just swabbed my cervix too hard or could it be BH? Should I be concerned?

spifftiff88 - 25 days ago.
I've been having menstrual like cramps starting 2 days ago and I assume they are the start of BH contractions...but I woke up at about 3 am and had cramping and have had them all day.. Just a constant cramping, they don't just come and go... anyone have anything like this and should I call my dr? I would have to go to the ER because my doctor won't be back in until Monday

jbboulton - 31 days ago.
I have a doctor's appt. next week so I will definately be asking about the contractions. I wonder, though, if I should call before I go and see if they would do an internal exam just to make sure that everything is staying the same with my cervix?? At my last ultrasound (29 weeks), she was measuring a week ahead (which was a blessing because she has a two vessel cord and we thought she was going to be small... the whole reason for the ultrasound!)

Martina26 - 31 days ago.
yes stress is soooo powerful it releases chemicals in the body which cause mild to strong chemical reactions w/in the body. This is extremely important during pregnancy. I guess ive just started getting them--also 38.5 weeks prego. Stay strong ladies--they just help us prep for the real deal ;)

jbboulton - 31 days ago.
Lucky you, aprilmommy! I've been having them since about 29 weeks... I'm so confused, though. I seem to get them fairly often, probably to the point where I should call the doctor but I'm just not one of those people who run to the doctor for every little thing. Does anyone know if stress can trigger them? Because, lately I've had enough stress to share with everyone on this site!

aprilmommy - 32 days ago.
i am 38 1/2 weeks preggo and i have never had a BH contraction!

poetpeat - 34 days ago.
So I think I have been having braxton hicks on and off for about a week now. I am 36 weeks pregnant and for the last two nights in a row, i have had trouble sleeping with crampy like feelings in my lower abdomen. Lots of pressure at times and sometimes no pressure at all. I am not sure what is going on, but I am wondering if these are signs of labor. Any info would be great thanks!

stayathome - 36 days ago.
I am 36 weeks, and last night I had two hours of contractions 5 min apart lasting for a min...then went to bed. Is it normal to have BH at regular intervals? They were painless

Sakurako - 37 days ago.
I think I might have had the first BH of my pregnancy today...at least the first ones that I'm aware of. Several times during this evening, I became aware of a tightening in my lower abdomen. It was more or less painless, it just felt as if I had somehow tensed some sort of inner version of my abdominal muscles without realizing it. I stopped for a second and relaxed, and they went away. I was a bit surprised to feel it at only 17 weeks, but maybe it's because I'm having twins? No idea. Every new weirdness is a little frightening at first, though.

ro - 39 days ago.
bellabelly: With all 3 of my kids, I never had braxton hicks, and If I did, I never felt them.

ams8663 - 42 days ago.
I am 30 weeks today and I was talking about how I had braxton hicks contractions last night after sex for 2-3 hours but they went away...and now since about 7:00 pm I am having them again..not in a regular pattern but they are pretty uncomfortable and I also feel some dull pressure down below...this stuff is confusing me..cuz I have had a similar experience before but they said my cervix was still closed...should I ask my dr. to check it at the next appointment I don't want her to look at me weird for asking but it's better to be safe than sorry.

bellabelly - 42 days ago.
I am 35w3d and I am pretty sure I haven't had any BH at all still. Is that normal? It seems like everyone in my week has been getting them for a while now!

gidget32 - 43 days ago.
With both pregnacies I got BH starting at 4-5 months. My stomach would go rock hard for a 1 minute or so, then the tension would ease up. Everytime with my second I would get into the bath tub, he would shift and go sideways and I would have BH. 7 years later I can still remember them .....And look forward to the day they happen again :)

Anna2008 - 44 days ago.
qustion for anyone that can answer.im 23 almost 24 weeks pregnant and have been experencing what i thought was braxton hicks contractions but there not in the lower belly.they start at the top and my whole little bump goes hard and they are quite painfull. also im having dirreorah.is this normal braxton hicks or signs premature labour is near (im in the at rick catagrey anytime after 24 weeks)

ams8663 - 45 days ago.
I am being induced on May 26th...but my doc said she was gunna start checking my cervix at 36 weeks but I had 2 shots of turb. at 23 weeks and have not had a single BH contraction since then. Isn't it the BH that start your effacement and dilation?? So how could I have went into labor on my own without any contractions??

meekiepoo72 - 46 days ago.
hello ladies..i am also going thru the same thing...read my page ..my last entry..i had an episode on monday with Bh and called my dr..he wanted to see me right away..hooked me up to monitor..after awhile they went away..having them again today..not that consistant though!!!

jaimiecollette - 46 days ago.
branbug- i am going through the same thing right now, i called my doctors yesterday and they said it sounded normal, i am waiting right now for them to open and i will call again, i just don't feel something is right. I hope it all goes well for you! How far along are you now?

branbug - 46 days ago.
well i was having BH's last night for like 3 hrs or more and finally i fell asleep well when i woke up there still going on. So i called my doc. waiting for a call back. And they are not painless either! They hurt and now i'm at work and when i walk it hurts so bad and there's alot of pressure down there and like shooting pains. I went to the ER for this once before at 28 wks or so and they gave me a shot to stop them....i wonder what they'll do this time, i dont want to go to the hospital again! that's for sure. ANyone else have this and go to the doc....what'd they do? i didnt experience this with my other child.

mattie4 - 50 days ago.
ams: not at all :)


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