Braxton hicks or real contractions

Braxton-Hicks Contractions vs. Real Contractions

Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Stephanie Watson on January 11, 2018

Braxton-Hicks contractions are contractions that do not lead to delivery but can give you the false sensation that you are in labor. They may come and go without getting stronger or closer together.

When you’re in the final stages of pregnancy, contractions are like your body’s alarm clock, alerting you that you’re in labor. Sometimes, though, contractions can sound a false alarm.

These are called Braxton-Hicks contractions, named after the doctor who first described them. You can think of them as practice contractions that get your body ready for your baby’s arrival, but they are not the real thing.

Not sure whether you’re having Braxton-Hicks contractions or real ones? Here’s a guide to help you tell the difference.

What are Braxton-Hicks contractions?

Braxton-Hicks contractions are sometimes called “false labor” because they give you the false sensation that you are having real contractions.

Although they can thin the cervix (the opening of the uterus) as real contractions do, Braxton-Hicks contractions won’t ultimately lead to delivery.

Braxton-Hicks contractions typically start in your third trimester of pregnancy. They’ll arrive from time to time, often in the afternoon or evening and especially after you’ve had an active day. You won’t notice any real pattern, but Braxton-Hicks contractions may come more often the closer you get to your due date.

When a Braxton-Hicks contraction hits, you’ll feel a tightening in your abdomen. It’s not usually painful, but it can be.

Signs you’re having Braxton-Hicks contractions include:

contractions that come and go
contractions that don’t get stronger or closer together
contractions that go away when you change position or empty your bladder

What are real labor contractions?

Real contractions happen when your body releases a hormone called oxytocin, which stimulates your uterus to contract. They’re a signal that your body is in labor:

For many women, real contractions start at around the 40th week of pregnancy.
Real contractions that begin before the 37th week can be classified as premature labor.

Real contractions tighten the top part of your uterus to push your baby downward into the birth canal in preparation for delivery. They also thin your cervix to help your baby get through.

The feeling of a true contraction has been described as a wave. The pain starts low, rises until it peaks, and finally ebbs away. If you touch your abdomen, it feels hard during a contraction.

You can tell that you’re in true labor when the contractions are evenly spaced (for example, five minutes apart), and the time between them gets shorter and shorter (three minutes apart, then two minutes, then one). Real contractions also get more intense and painful over time.

There are other clues that you’re in labor, including these:

You may see a clump of pinkish or bloody mucus when you use the bathroom. This is called a “bloody show.”
You may feel like the baby has “dropped” lower in your belly.
You may experience fluid leaking from your vagina. This is a sign that your “water” (a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac) has broken.

How can you tell the difference?

This chart can help you tell whether you’re in real labor or just “practicing”:

What to do if you’re having contractions

Contractions that only show up from time to time are most likely Braxton-Hicks. But if they start coming regularly, time them for about an hour. If they get stronger or closer together, you are likely experiencing true labor.

When they’re about five or six minutes apart, it’s probably time to grab your bag and head to the hospital.

If you’re not sure whether you’re really in labor, call your doctor or go to your delivery hospital. You’re better off seeking medical help, even if it turns out to be a false alarm.

It’s especially important to get to the hospital if you’re less than 37 weeks into your pregnancy, the contractions are especially painful, or your water has broken.

Last medically reviewed on January 11, 2018

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Braxton Hicks contractions: Causes and treatment. (2017).
americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/braxton-hicks/
Contractions. (2013).
marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/contractions.aspx
Labor contractions. (n.d.).
babies.sutterhealth.org/laboranddelivery/labor/ld_contractns.html
Signs that labour has begun. (2016).
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Current Version

Jan 11, 2018

Written By

Stephanie Watson

Edited By

Frank Crooks

Medically Reviewed By

Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI

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Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., CNE, COI — By Stephanie Watson on January 11, 2018

False alarm: Braxton Hicks contractions vs. true labor | Your Pregnancy Matters

“This is it! I’m going into labor!” That’s what you may think when you feel your abdomen tighten up repeatedly over a short period of time.

So, before you grab your bag and head to the hospital, learn how to know when you’re having Braxton Hicks contractions and when you should call your doctor.

However, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing false labor, more commonly known as Braxton Hicks contractions. In my experience working with pregnant women, almost all of them will feel Braxton Hicks contractions at some time during their pregnancy. They are named for the English doctor who first described them in 1872. After Dr. John Braxton Hicks noted that many of his patients felt contractions but were not actually in labor, he studied the phenomenon to help clear up the confusion.

Braxton Hicks contractions vs. true labor

Braxton Hicks contractions – which usually start during the third trimester – are thought of as the uterus practicing for labor, but they aren’t a sign you’re actually in labor.

The key difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and the real thing is that Braxton Hicks contractions aren’t coordinated. Real contractions start at the top of the uterus and, in a coordinated fashion, move through the middle of the uterus to the lower segment. Braxton Hicks contractions feel like a tightening of the abdomen and tend to be focused in one area. They don’t always travel through the whole uterus.

The other main distinguishing factor is time. Patients tell me, “I was having contractions every five or 10 minutes, but it only happened for 30 or 40 minutes. ” These contractions may appear to be happening in some sort of pattern, but if you’re truly in labor, contractions will not stop and the time between them will get shorter.

Signs you may be experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions:

They’re uncomfortable, but not usually painful.
Intervals between contractions are irregular.
Duration between each one doesn’t become shorter.
They don’t get stronger over time.
Contractions taper off and disappear.

Signs your contractions may indicate real labor:

They’re painful.
Intervals between each one become shorter.
Contractions become stronger and last longer over time.
They don’t stop.

What triggers Braxton Hicks contractions and how to stop them

The No. 1 cause of Braxton Hicks contractions is dehydration. Even minor dehydration can cause them. You’re a busy woman: work, family, friends, shopping for baby supplies. It’s easy to become occupied with a task and not realize you haven’t had a glass of water in a few hours. Especially in our Texas heat, you need to be vigilant about getting enough to drink. You also may experience Braxton Hicks if you are sick with a cold or flu and are vomiting or feeling nauseated. This often is related to dehydration.

If you come to the hospital to report contractions but aren’t sure you’re in labor, the first thing we’ll do after assessing your baby and checking your cervix is ask you to drink a few big cups of water in a short amount of time. If it’s Braxton Hicks, the contractions will stop fairly soon after you’re rehydrated. We give the same advice to women who call from home with the same concern.

Fetal movement also can trigger Braxton Hicks. Women often say they felt a sharp kick from the baby or a lot of activity right before contractions started.

Your activity also can trigger contractions. Whether you’re moving into a new house or just getting the nursery ready, extra movement – especially lifting – can bring on Braxton Hicks. This is why we tell pregnant women to rest often if they need to move or lift more than normal. On the other hand, some activity also can relieve Braxton Hicks contractions. If you’re sitting down, stand up and go for a walk. Sometimes just changing your position can help.

The 5-1-1 rule, and when to call your doctor

Patients sometimes confess to me, “I hate to bother you with a false alarm.” Don’t worry about it! If you aren’t sure whether you’re having Braxton Hicks contractions or you’re truly in labor, call us. That’s what we’re here for. We want a healthy mom and baby, and if you don’t tell us when something concerns you, we can’t help.

To ease patients’ minds when it comes to contractions, we talk about the 5-1-1 rule that signals you’re in true labor:

Contractions occur every 5 minutes.
Each contraction lasts at least 1 minute.
Contractions have been ongoing for 1 hour.

When you meet the 5-1-1 rule, call your doctor’s office or come in.

Here are a few other situations in which you should call or visit your doctor right away:

Your water breaks: We don’t want you managing it on your own at home. Once your water breaks, you are at increased risk for a number of complications, so we want to monitor you in the hospital.
Decreased fetal movement: Pay attention to any sudden changes in your baby’s activity – they aren’t moving as much or at all. A glass of orange juice or cold water might get your baby moving, but if that doesn’t work, you should see your doctor right away.
Braxton Hicks contractions that start earlier than the third trimester: While they can occur in the second trimester, it may indicate preterm labor. Women who have had multiple pregnancies sometimes start to feel Braxton Hicks late in the second trimester because they are more sensitive and aware of how it feels. These moms may be inclined to shrug them off. However, if Braxton Hicks contractions start before the third trimester, tell your doctor just to be safe.

As mentioned, don’t hesitate to call your doctor’s office with a question. You will never annoy us! If it’s an emergency, call or go to the hospital immediately. However, if you have a less-pressing question about your pregnancy, my patients have found MyChart to be a convenient option to get answers. If you’re not a UT Southwestern Medical Center patient, ask if your healthcare provider has a similar tool.

MyChart allows you to communicate with your doctor through secure messages. It’s similar to email, but you don’t have to worry about sending your personal medical information through – it’s completely private and safe.

While Braxton Hicks contractions can be uncomfortable and annoying, they are perfectly normal and do not pose a danger to you or your baby. Stay calm and be patient. Even if it’s not labor, it’ll be great practice for motherhood.

If you have further questions about Braxton Hicks contractions or how to know when you’re in labor, request an appointment online or call 214-645-8300.

90,000 Braxton Hicks contractions. How to distinguish between false and real contractions?

Braxton-Hicks contractions or false labor contractions are irregular contractions and relaxation of the muscles of the uterus as a way of preparing for true labor. They are thought to start around 6 weeks of gestation but are not usually felt until the 2nd or 3rd trimester.

False contractions are a normal part of pregnancy. They may be uncomfortable, but not painful. Women describe them as a feeling that feels like mild menstrual cramps or tightness in a specific area of the abdomen that quickly subsides. nine0003

They are also irregular in duration and intensity, occur infrequently, are unpredictable and not rhythmic, and are more uncomfortable than painful.

Braxton Hicks contractions tend to increase in frequency and intensity towards the end of pregnancy. Women often mistake Braxton Hicks contractions for real labor. However, unlike real contractions, they do not dilate the cervix and result in the birth of a baby.

Braxton Hicks contractions occur when the muscle fibers of the uterus contract and relax. The exact etiology of Braxton Hicks contractions is unknown. However, there are circumstances that can cause them:

when the woman is very active,
when the bladder is full,
after sexual activity,
when the woman is dehydrated.

Common among all these circumstances is the potential stress on the fetus and the need for increased blood flow to the placenta to provide oxygen to the fetus.

Change position or activity level: if you were very active, lie down; if you have been sitting for a long time, go for a walk. nine0014
Relax: take a warm bath, massage, read a book, listen to music or take a nap.

If you have Braxton Hicks contractions or if they continue and become more frequent and intense, you should see your doctor.

When assessing for Braxton Hicks contractions, there are a few key questions to ask yourself. We have prepared a table for you with questions, the answers to which will help you understand what kind of contractions you have:

	Braxton Higgs contractions	Real labor pains
How often do contractions occur?	Irregular and do not increase over time.	Occurs at regular intervals and gets stronger over time.
How long do contractions last?	Unpredictable. They can last less than 30 seconds or up to 2 minutes. nine0048	Lasts 30 to 90 seconds and gets longer over time.
How strong are the contractions?	Usually weak and either stay the same or get weaker and then disappear.	Increase over time.
Where do contractions feel?	Often only felt in the front of the abdomen or in one specific area.	Begin in the middle of the back and wrap around the belly towards the midline. nine0048
Do abbreviations change with movement?	May stop if activity level changes or if woman's position changes.	Continue and may even get worse with movement or change of position.

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false or real / “Waiting for a baby”

February

How to distinguish them from real contractions, and why they are needed, we will try to find out. nine0003

The phenomenon of temporary contractions was first described by the English doctor John Braxton Hicks. That is why they are called - Braxton Hicks contractions or false, training contractions, precursor contractions. In his scientific work of 1872, he argued that these contractions are short-term (from half a minute to 2 minutes) contractions of the muscles of the uterus, which are felt by a pregnant woman as an increase in the tone of the uterus. They appear after the 20th week of pregnancy. And during the day they happen often, but the expectant mother in the daytime may not even notice them. However, as time goes on, they intensify, becoming more and more obvious. nine0003

WHAT DO YOU NEED FALSE BROUGHT

The uterus is a muscular organ. And like any muscle that has to perform the work allotted to it in the body, it needs training. After all, if she hangs for all forty weeks like a bag, she will not cope with the load in childbirth. Thus, the purpose of training or false contractions is to prepare the uterus and cervix for childbirth. That is why one of the names of training bouts is contractions harbingers - harbingers of an approaching birth. nine0003

ARE FALSE PARTS PAINFUL?

As a rule, false contractions are painless, but with increasing duration they become more noticeable and bring more discomfort. However, in all women, they manifest themselves in different ways, someone does not feel them at all, and someone does not sleep at night, tossing and turning and trying to find a comfortable position for sleeping. It all depends on the pain threshold. The main thing in this situation is to stop being nervous about this and calm yourself with the thought that such training is necessary for the most important upcoming event - the birth of your crumbs. And to calm down a little and sleep better, ask your doctor to prescribe a sedative for you and get a special pillow for expectant and nursing mothers. With her, falling asleep and experiencing the discomfort of the last weeks of pregnancy will be much easier! nine0003

HOW TO LIVE WITH FREQUENT PARTS

Some expectant mothers complain that their Braxton Hicks contractions are frequent and cause significant discomfort, even when they are doing housework or other light physical activity. In such a situation, obstetricians are advised to lie down or vice versa, take an easy walk, in any case, change the type of activity. If training contractions bother you a lot, it is recommended to drink a glass of water, juice or herbal tea, calm down and get some rest. Ask someone close to give you a massage. Lie in silence. And to also benefit from training fights, try doing breathing exercises: practice breathing techniques in childbirth in practice. nine0003

HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE TRAINING FROM LIVING

The most important thing to understand is that real contractions are much more painful than Braxton Hicks contractions. You will understand it right away. In addition, the contractions that bring you closer to childbirth are more regular. The contractions begin in the lower back, spread to the front of the abdomen, and occur every 10 minutes (or more than 5 contractions per hour). Then they occur with an interval of about 30-70 seconds and over time the intervals between them are reduced. Some women describe the sensations of labor pains as severe menstrual cramps, or sensations during diarrhea, when the pain rolls in waves in the abdomen. These contractions, unlike false ones, continue even after a change in position and when walking, constantly intensifying. As soon as you feel all these symptoms, call your ob-gyn - hour X has arrived. If in doubt, also do not be afraid to disturb the doctor. The doctor will ask you a few questions that will help him determine the type of contractions and eliminate all your doubts and worries. After all, it is always better to consult a doctor and trust his professional experience. nine0003

You should seek help if:

• you have more than four contractions an hour and they happen regularly
• contractions are accompanied by pain in the lower spine
• contractions are accompanied by watery or bloody vaginal discharge
• the contractions are so strong that it is very difficult for you to endure them
• there is a marked change in the child's movement, or less than 10 movements every 2 hours nine0122 • you think your waters have started to break

Alla Misyutina, Consultant Physician, Independent Laboratory INVITRO

Dear women, during labor, the body needs a lot of oxygen, so proper breathing is very important. A large influx of oxygen into the blood of mother and baby alleviates the condition of the crumbs, which during childbirth experiences oxygen starvation. Special breathing techniques help to properly open the birth canal and make contractions and attempts as effective as possible. nine0003

Different types of breathing should be used at different stages of labor.

• During "false" contractions, breathing should be deep and slow. During the period when the contractions become more intense, it is necessary to use "pain-relieving breathing". This breathing is slow, deep, the inhalation is done through the nose, it should be longer than the exhalation through the mouth. More details: inhale is done at the expense of 1-2-3-4, and exhale - at the expense of 1-2-3-4-5-6. With the help of such breathing: mom relaxes, distracts from pain, focuses on the score; the baby receives as much as possible, so he needs oxygen. nine0122 • In breaks from contractions, you need to rest and breathe evenly without any effort, so that you can then easily follow the doctor's recommendations.
• During attempts, you need to exhale all the air from the lungs, then take a deep breath and push for up to 6-9 seconds. Quickly exhale all the air, quickly take a deep breath and again hold your breath for 6-9 seconds, and so on - about three times per attempt.
• In breaks from attempts to rest and breathe deeply, evenly and relaxed. nine0122 • It is very important to only push on the perineum and never push on the head. In this case, all efforts are wasted and will appear in the form of burst vessels in the eyes and on the face.
• In the period after the birth of the head, it is necessary to stop pushing and breathing shallowly, some call this breathing “dog-like”, deep breathing can harm both mom and baby. Then everything goes on as usual, the main thing is to obey the doctor.
• After the baby was born, within half an hour the last stage of labor begins - the birth of the placenta. Special breathing is no longer required, at the doctor's command, push a little into the perineum and EVERYTHING! Dear women, pain during childbirth is good, it means that your baby will be born soon. There is no need to resist the pain, this is a mistake that brings a woman and a child nothing but fatigue. On the contrary, it is necessary to concentrate and help in every possible way to give birth to a healthy baby. nine0003

BIRTH AGAIN

So, you have decided that this is no longer a “teaching”, but the beginning of childbirth. In addition to contractions, the onset of labor can be indicated by the outflow of amniotic fluid and the passage of a mucous plug that closes the lumen of the cervix. The mucous plug can also come off 2-3 days before delivery. However, her departure does not always mean that it is time to go to the hospital. During pregnancy, the cervix is tightly closed. With the onset of labor pains, its opening begins: the cervix of the uterus gradually expands to 10-12 cm in diameter (full disclosure). The birth canal is preparing to "release" the child from the womb. Intrauterine pressure increases during contractions as the uterus shrinks. And in the end, this leads to rupture of the fetal bladder and the outflow of part of the amniotic fluid. nine0003

The first, preparatory, period of labor for women giving birth for the first time takes an average of 12 hours, and 2-4 hours less for those who have second births. At the beginning of the second stage of labor, contractions join the contractions - contractions of the muscles of the abdominal wall and diaphragm. In addition to the fact that different muscle groups are involved in contractions and attempts, they have one more important difference: contractions are an involuntary and uncontrollable phenomenon, neither their strength nor frequency depend on the woman in labor, while attempts to a certain extent obey her will , it can delay or strengthen them. Therefore, at this stage of childbirth, a lot depends on the expectant mother and her ability to quickly and correctly follow the commands of the obstetrician taking delivery. And most importantly - to tune in correctly and not allow panic and thoughts about something bad. Obstetricians and gynecologists recommend that mothers perceive childbirth as a holiday, a baby's birthday.