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 26 to 49 of about 59.
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katerenee - 230 days ago.
i am 37 weeks pregnant and today i was doing casual house work and all of a sudden i got a shooting pain near my cervix and lower back it was that painful that i nearly fell. i am sitting down atm and i feel like i have to sit still so the pain is bareable atm,. i had bhs last week and made me literally cry. i havent felt this b4 with my first son only true labour and that was enough. i dnt if i should call the midwife and my other half or just hold out until he gets home.

nikongirl24 - 231 days ago.
I just started experiencing some Bh contractions last week (week 20). Man, let me tell you, just so uncomfortable. Sometimes it's like I have one heck of a muscle cramp, but then goes away. :( Boo. But I was checked the other day and baby is doing great, and we have our fetal anatomy scan u/s on thursday. Here's hoping for a boy!!(fingers crossed!)

krystalnf - 232 days ago.
i don't know if mine are BH. its a severe pain in my abdomen and gradually gets worse but eventually go away. I'm 19 weeks tomorrow and i've had them everyday for maybe 2 weeks now. i feel the baby move so i know its okay but is this something i need to worry about? I see the doctor in a week but it gets so painful i wake up from a 'coma' like sleep sometimes. also when the baby does move it hurts... this is my 2nd pregnancy but i lost my first one at 5 weeks so i haven't truly been through this. A little scared so please help.

louisec - 239 days ago.
Its so reassuring reading about all of you describing thae same thing as i am feeling. I have had BH since week 11 and they ahve been really painful all the way through, and now at 34 weeks, they can be very very ainful. i also have period and back pain with them and as often as every 5-10 mins on some days. It became so intense taht i was admitted for observation and ahd seroid injections and nifedipine, to stop the contractions, they eventually said that they were not intense enough to start proper contractions so went home , so now i am a little more cautious about running(waddling ) up to hosp in case i am admitted again, (so boring in that place). It really can be quite scary especially for 1st time mummy's. (must be awful) This is my 3rd but i never really felt BH'S then (strange) Just waiting for the real thing now ! Louise

nevertooyoung19 - 258 days ago.
i dont know if what i am having is brazton hicks or not... its pretty much any time i have to use my abs... like to la down in bed or whatever, and basically my who bump gets really hard and also more pointy shaped. it looks really strange and i have never heard of braxton hicks looking weird... it feels like intense pressure over my whole tummy.. not in my vagina or my back or my legs... just my bump... is this a description of BH?

shellisland34 - 258 days ago.
I have heard that you will feel BH contractions sooner the more pregnancies you have been through and that has been true for me...I was feeling them early as well...just ask your doc for reassurance...better to be safe than sorry you know? :)

mamabear7406 - 259 days ago.
I just wondered when some peoples braxton hicks started... I never experienced BH with my first pregnancy, but have definately been feeling some action this time round and it has worried me as I'm only 19 weeks... Is it normal to notice them at this stage?

MrsOakes - 271 days ago.
ok so I never had BH with my son but this little girl is giving me heck. I ended up in the hospital 3 days ago with contractions so bad I was in tears. Well, low and behold the BH had gotten so severe it had actually caused my cervix to contract inducing the REAL contractions!! I got a few shots that were supposed to stop them with tylenol 3 and after a few hours the pain finally went away. So scary since I'm only 6months along.

pygmalin - 272 days ago.
Happens to me too..all of a sudden the wind is knocked out of me..true contraction feel like period cramps though...at first...then get gradually worse...sometimes with low back pain...BH usually don't hurt just very unconfortable...My problem is sometimes I can time them..my doc said for me to rest and drink lots of fluids...deydration can trigger them...but they are very very normal.

lucy01 - 273 days ago.
i dont know if im getting them or if bub is flipping over, i get a throbbing pain in my lower back and then a certain part of my tum will get really tight, weather its on the lower left side or higher right side, but its not the whole stomach being tight, only certain area's so im a little unsure, it tends to happen about 4 times a day and it also knocked my breath away, any help please would be great!

pygmalin - 282 days ago.
OMG-Latley I have been able to time my BH...They are still high though and don't not have any pain..but some times they are exactley 11 minutes a parts and knock the wind right out of me...this is baby Number two for me I remember how real contractions feel so I am not concernd but geez I am wondering if I should still be working? I did talk to doc he didn't think I was dehydrated which can bring them on..and I am not yet dialating. Any one else have this? (34 weeks)

MyFourthLittleAngel - 282 days ago.
I'm on my 3rd baby. I never got BH with either baby but this little guy has given them to me since week 18. I'm not sure why we have them with some babies and not others. I'm at week 35 now and still no sign of labor so don't worrry if you don't have them or if you are having lots. They are both normal. Just remember if you are having lots. Drink 3 large glasses of water, lay on your left side and try to relax. If they go away they were just BH. If your water breaks or bloody show then it's real. Good luck to all!!!

jade - 283 days ago.
I got 4 days to go. and havent had any BH? Do you have to get them ? I did with my first... But doesnt seem i am going to get any this time around

preggo again - 296 days ago.
i get bh contractions everyday

milftastic - 297 days ago.
I get them every few days and its really uncomfortable....like a football under my skin, it hurts my ribs. Im 22 weeks gone with my 3rd baby

Azriella - 297 days ago.
Hi Im 38 going on 39 weeks and have yet to feel a single BH or anything, shes going to stay in there forever isnt she? >.<

momtobeagain - 298 days ago.
I just wanted to add that I am 8 weeks (yesterday) and I felt them this morning. I could actually put my hand on my stomach and feel the ball of my uterus and then it would flatten and go away. I had maybe 3 contractions this am. I was a little concerned until I got on this site and read they can start as early as 6 weeks. With my first pregnancy I had TONS of contractions and was actually hospitalized 3 times to stop my contractions. My doctor called me the 'contractor'. With my daughter- who was breech- I had zero contractions.

shellshocked - 307 days ago.
I'm 34 weeks along and so I must be having them! Other than a sensation of having strong menstrual cramps, maybe I'm lucky that they're not really strong and painful!

jamie - 307 days ago.
18 weeks and some change and last night I noticed a pretty strong BX cont...it kinda freaked me out to feel one thins early but this is my 3rd kids so I guess it is par for the course.

jennl - 308 days ago.
I'm 19 weeks today with baby 2 and I been haven bh for awhile now they dont hurt or anything , and there all over the place

shellshocked - 309 days ago.
I think I'm having BH, but they just feel like bad menstrual cramps to me. I haven't actually seen any tightening of the uterus.

MyFourthLittleAngel - 332 days ago.
I really wish I would have read this page a few days earlier. I have been having BH for days now. Some are rather strong and they get down to 5 minutes steady. At 28 weeks it's very upsetting to get it set in my mind that these are just false and not to worry. I get so nervous that I should be headed to the hopital so that they can stop labor if it really happens. I'm drinking my water, putting my feet up and now it comes and goes but always moves closer together once they come on. I don't want to have these pains for the next 2 1/2 months!!!!

chloemamma - 342 days ago.
I've been having a lot of Braxton Hicks lately and they always make me feel like I have to pee.

aloha.ma - 343 days ago.
When you get BH contractions...do they put pressure on your bladder? Whether I have just pee'd or not, when I get them I feel like I have to pee at that moment. I also feel like a blood rush to my head, or a bit warm. Is that normal for BH? I dont remember having any really with our daughter. How do I know if it is just baby balling up, or BH ???? Help.... also Im 32 weeks...

traceyh - 351 days ago.
Just wanted to add that I think I've been having BH 'early' but this is my second pregnancy... I'm 16 weeks currently and have had them for a few days. I forgot they can start early! My first pregnancy - they got really intense at 30 weeks until I delivered at 40 weeks.

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