Braxton Hicks Contractions

Braxton Hicks Contractions

Braxton Hicks Contractions, Here’s what you need to know about Braxton Hicks contractions: why they occur, how they feel and how to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks Contractions and real labour contractions. If you are pregnant, you have probably heard of Braxton Hicks contractions. Braxton Hicks contractions are actually your body’s way of preparing for the main event (labour and birth).

These contractions do not actually cause labour or dilate the cervix like contractions during labour; however, it is believed that these spontaneous contractions are your body’s way of preparing and toning your uterus for eventual labour (and birth). While it is easy to get excited when you feel a Braxton Hicks contraction towards the end of your pregnancy… we regret to inform you that this does not mean that labour is imminent.

How do Braxton Hicks contractions feel?

While some women do not notice them (or may not realise they are happening), other women may experience Braxton Hicks syndrome, which can be slightly uncomfortable or take their breath away.

The signs that you are having a Braxton Hicks contraction are the following:

• The front of your abdomen becomes hard or tense in the upper abdomen, then spreads downwards
• Your abdomen becomes almost pointed (sometimes, if you have Braxton Hicks syndrome, this can even be mistaken for the baby pushing out from inside your abdomen)
• You may feel some discomfort or have difficulty bending or moving during the contraction
• Contractions last about 30 seconds (up to two minutes for some) and do not come in a regular pattern

When Do I Experience Braxton Hicks Contractions?

Braxton Hicks are most common in the last few weeks of pregnancy and usually become more frequent as you get closer to your due date. Some mums may start noticing Braxton Hicks as early as the second trimester, especially if it is not their first pregnancy.

Braxton Hicks Contractions can be triggered by certain activities, such as: moving after being still for a while, exercise, full bladder (or emptying your bladder), having sex, movement of the baby, dehydration… (if you think anything can trigger them, you are absolutely right). If you experience Braxton Hicks often, you can try a few things to relax them: drinking water, resting, taking a warm (not hot) bath or some other calming activity.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

What is Braxton Hicks syndrome?

Braxton Hicks occurs when the uterus contracts and relaxes. They are sometimes known as false labour pains. Not all women will have Braxton Hicks contractions. If you do, you will usually feel them in the second or third trimester. Braxton Hicks are completely normal and many women experience them during pregnancy. Your midwife will probably talk to you about them at some point and you can ask questions at any time. You can also learn more about them at antenatal classes.

How do Braxton Hicks feel?

They can be uncomfortable, but not painful. Women often describe Braxton Hicks contractions as mild menstrual cramps or a feeling of tightness in a certain area of the stomach that comes and goes. Some people describe Braxton Hicks contractions as a tightness in their abdomen that comes and goes. Many say they feel like mild menstrual cramps. Braxton Hicks contractions can be uncomfortable, but they do not cause labour or open your cervix.

How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and labour contractions?

The best way to tell if you are really in labour is to time your contractions (there are many apps with built-in contraction timers). When you are really in labour, your contractions start to come regularly with increasing strength and frequency (and they start to take your breath away). Braxton Hicks contractions do not come in a regular pattern; they start to decrease and then disappear. Some pregnant women notice that the Braxton Hicks contractions stop when they change their activity (for example: lying down if they are active or going for a walk if they have been sitting for a while). When it is time for the actual contraction, nothing will change or stop your contractions.

If you are not sure whether you are having Braxton Hicks contractions or whether you are really in labour, call your health care provider! They can ask you questions about the timing and frequency of your contractions and assess whether you need to be evaluated.

There are some differences between Braxton Hicks contractions and real labour contractions. Your doctor or midwife will take these differences into account when deciding whether you are in labour.

Braxton Hicks contractions:

• do not open or dilate your cervix
• usually lasts about 30 seconds
• can be uncomfortable, but usually not painful
• come and go at irregular times
• usually occurs several times a day, no more than once or twice an hour – until late in your pregnancy
• you often stop when you change your position or activity or when you go for a walk
• you usually stop if you take a warm bath or shower

Learn the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and labour contractions.

Real labour pains:

• open or widen your cervix
• last 30 to 70 seconds
• is painful or requires your full attention
• become very organised and get closer and closer together as time goes by
• lasts longer as time passes
• Be stronger when you walk or come more often
• growing stronger over time

Important Facts

• Braxton Hicks contractions are a normal part of pregnancy.
• Braxton Hicks contractions make you feel the muscles in your abdomen tighten.
• Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular and usually last about 30 seconds; although they can be uncomfortable, they are usually not painful.
• Braxton Hicks contractions do not mean that labour has started.
• If you are not sure whether you are having Braxton Hicks contractions or labour contractions, contact your doctor or midwife.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

How can I relieve my discomfort?

Braxton Hicks contractions are normal and do not need treatment. However, if you feel uncomfortable, you can try the following:

• lying down or changing position
• going for a walk
• relaxing in the bathroom
• staying hydrated
• urination (urination)
• It may be helpful to practise your breathing exercises during your Braxton Hicks contractions.

How are Braxton Hicks contractions treated?

There is no cure for Braxton Hicks contractions. However, there are things you can do to alleviate them, for example

• changing position
• lie down if you have been too active – read more about exercise during pregnancy
• Go for a walk if you have been sitting for a long time
• relaxing, for example taking a warm bath, having a massage or taking a nap
• drink some water to compensate for fluid loss.

Is it normal not to have Braxton Hicks contractions?

The absence of Braxton Hicks contractions is completely normal and will not be a problem when it is time to have your baby. Some pregnant women, especially those who are pregnant for the first time, do not notice their Braxton Hicks. Others may not know what they are when they feel them. In some women, especially those who have had children before, it can be quite severe, while in others it can be so mild (just a slight tightness in the abdomen) that it goes unnoticed.

In any case, do not worry if you are not experiencing Braxton Hicks, as you may not be able to adjust to them or you may experience them later in your pregnancy. Some women feel Braxton Hicks in the second trimester, others in the third trimester. As you get closer to your due date, they can become stronger and more frequent (although not always!). Nevertheless, do not hesitate to consult your doctor to get answers to your questions and reassurance that everything is going normally.

What do contractions mean?

To find out whether your contractions are real and whether labour has started, ask yourself these questions.

• How often do the contractions occur?
  False labour contractions: The contractions have no pattern and do not come close together.
  Real labour: Contractions come at regular intervals and last about 30 to 70 seconds. As time goes by, they become stronger and closer together.
• Do they change with movement?
  False labour contractions: Contractions may stop when you walk or rest. They may pass when you change position.
  Real labour: Contractions continue even when you move, change position or try to rest.
• How strong are they?
  False labour: Contractions are usually weak and do not get much stronger. Or they may be strong at first and then weaken.
  Real labour: The contractions get stronger and stronger.
• Where is the pain?
  False labour: You usually do not feel pain, but you may feel some discomfort in the front of your abdomen.
  Real labour: Contractions may start in your lower back and move to the front of your abdomen. Or they may start in your abdomen and move towards your back.
• What are the other symptoms?
  False labour: You usually have no other symptoms.
  Real labour: You may lose your mucus plug (a clump of mucus that blocks your cervix). You may also have water breaking or bleeding.

Braxton Hicks Contractions

What triggers Braxton Hicks contractions and how to stop them?

The number 1 cause of Braxton Hicks contractions is thirst. Even a small thirst can cause them. You are a busy woman: work, family, friends, baby shopping. It is easy to be busy with a task and not realise that you have not had a glass of water for several hours. Especially in hot weather, you need to be careful to drink enough water. You may also experience Braxton Hicks when you have a cold or flu and vomit or feel nauseous. This is usually associated with dehydration.

If you come to the hospital to report contractions but you are not sure that labour has started, the first thing we will do after assessing your baby and checking your cervix is to ask you to drink several large glasses of water in a short time. If it is Braxton Hicks, the contractions will stop soon after rehydration. We give the same advice to women who call home with the same concern. Fetal movements can also trigger Braxton Hicks. Women often say that they feel a hard kick or a lot of activity from the baby just before the contractions start.

Your activity can also trigger contractions. Whether you are moving to a new home or just preparing the nursery, extra movement – especially lifting – can trigger Braxton Hicks. This is why we often tell pregnant women to rest when they have to move or lift more than usual. On the other hand, some activities can trigger Braxton Hicks contractions

When to Worry About Braxton Hicks

In the early stages of your pregnancy, talk to your doctor about what to expect and what not to expect and when you might need to call them. If you’re not sure if what you’re feeling is labor, call your doctor or midwife. They should always be available to answer your questions and talk about your concerns.

Call your midwife or your local power outage if:

• Any vaginal bleeding
• Continuous leakage of fluid or your water breaking (this can be gushing or dripping)
• Strong contractions every 5 minutes for an hour
• Contractions that you “can’t handle”
• A significant change in your baby’s movements or you feel fewer than 10 movements every 2 hours
• Are there any signs of real labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy?

Don’t hesitate to call your healthcare provider if you’re feeling uncomfortable, anxious, or unsure about your pre-labor or pregnancy symptoms (or lack thereof), or if you’re not sure if what you’re feeling is labor or Braxton Hicks. Labor symptoms can be confusing, and early labor can be especially difficult to spot, so it’s always best to talk to your doctor or midwife. If your provider tells you to come in, it could be a false alarm and an unnecessary trip — but you won’t be the only mom-to-be who’s gone to the doctor or hospital thinking she’s not in labor.

The pre-labor period can last from a few hours to a month or more, and signs and symptoms can be different for each person (and each pregnancy). Since it’s not always easy to tell if you’re in labor on your own, enlist the help of your provider. That’s what they’re there for. And sooner or later, you’ll hear those magic words: “The baby’s on the way!”

Other Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy

Abdominal pain can be caused by other symptoms or infections that are common when you are pregnant. Some of them include:

• Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  Bacteria in your urinary tract cause most UTIs. Anyone can get this disease, but it is most common in women. If you are pregnant, you are at higher risk of developing a UTI from weeks 6 to 24. As your uterus grows, it presses against your bladder, which can block the flow of urine. Pain in your lower stomach or near your bladder can be a symptom of a UTI. If left untreated, UTIs can sometimes lead to a kidney infection. This is a big concern if you are pregnant because a kidney infection can lead to premature labor (being born too early) and low birth weight. If you think you may have a UTI, tell your doctor right away. If your UTI is treated early, it will not harm your baby.

• Gas or constipation
  When you are pregnant, high levels of the hormone progesterone in your body relax your digestive system and make it work more slowly. This can cause gas, bloating and constipation (difficulty passing stools). Instead of being unable to get rid of waste, it builds up and hardens in the lower part of your stomach. Constipation can start in the first trimester of pregnancy and can last up to 3 months after your baby is born. Your belly may be swollen, but constipation doesn’t harm your baby. If you have constipation for more than a few weeks, talk to your doctor. Don’t take laxatives or other medications unless your doctor approves.

• Placental abruption
  Your placenta (a temporary organ that gives nutrients and oxygen to your baby) develops in your uterus while you’re pregnant. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the wall of your uterus too early, before your baby is ready to be born. It can block nutrients and oxygen from your baby and cause you to bleed heavily. Your risk of placental abruption is highest during the last trimester. If you experience any of the symptoms of placental abruption, such as vaginal bleeding, sudden back or stomach pain, or uterine contractions, you should see a doctor right away. Failure to seek emergency care can be life-threatening for you and your baby.

• Round ligament pain
  Sharp, shooting pains on the sides of your abdomen are called round ligament pain. This is caused by the ligaments that support your uterus and attach to your pelvis stretching as your uterus grows. Round ligament pain usually occurs with movements such as standing up, rolling over, coughing, sneezing, or even urinating. The pain can also radiate to your groin. It usually lasts only a few seconds or minutes. Here are some things you can do to relieve round ligament pain:

• Change your position or activity. If you are lying down, it may help to lie on your other side.
• Support your abdomen when standing or turning.
• Move more slowly.
• Try to rest.
• Take a very warm bath or use a heating pad.

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