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What are Braxton Hicks contractions?
Sometime towards the middle of your pregnancy (or even earlier), you may notice the muscles of your uterus tightening for anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds. Not all women feel these random, usually painless contractions, which get their name from John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor who first described them in 1872.
Doctors and midwives believe that Braxton Hicks contractions are part of your body getting ready for labour, and that they get the processes of effacement and dilation going in preparation for delivery. (This is called 'ripening'.)
How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labour contractions?
Most women pregnant for the first time will often ask their midwives or friends this question, and the answer is maddeningly vague: "You'll know real labour when it begins." And they're right. Labour contractions are noticeably longer as well as more regular, frequent, and painful than Braxton Hicks contractions. Also, labour pains will increase in frequency, duration, and intensity as time goes on, while Braxton Hicks remain unpredictable and non-rhythmic.
What if the Braxton Hicks contractions become painful?
As your pregnancy progresses, these contractions may become more intense and even painful at times. When they start to become more intense and frequent, they may feel like the real thing, but the contractions will still be irregular in intensity, frequency, and duration, and can taper off and then disappear altogether. In other words, if you ever notice that your contractions are easing up in any way, they are probably Braxton Hicks.
Some healthcare professionals recommend that you use Braxton Hicks contractions as an opportunity to practise the breathing exercises you'll learn in your antenatal class.
What should I do if they're uncomfortable?
Many women notice that the contractions come more frequently when they do even light physical activity, such as carrying in shopping from the car. If you feel discomfort, it sometimes helps to lie down, or, conversely, to get up and take a walk, both of which can ease any pain you feel. A warm bath sometimes helps, too. Some healthcare professionals recommend drinking a couple of glasses of water if the contractions bother you as they can sometimes be brought on by dehydration. In general, a lack of adequate fluids tends to make your uterus more irritable - another of the many reasons to drink plenty of fluids while you're pregnant.
When should I call my doctor or midwife?
Call if your contractions are accompanied by watery or bloody vaginal discharge. Until you reach term (37 weeks gestation), call your midwife if the contractions are accompanied by lower back pain, if you feel more than three contractions an hour, or if they're coming at regular intervals; these are signs of premature labour. If you're past 37 weeks, there's no need to call your midwife until your contractions last 60 seconds each and are five minutes apart.