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Understanding and Identifying Braxton Hicks Contractions

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3. Understanding and Identifying Braxton Hicks Contractions

The doctors and midwives at All About Women of Gainesville and Lake City, FL discuss how you can distinguish between Braxton Hicks vs.

Whether you're 22 or 35 weeks along, pregnant with your first baby or your third, Braxton Hicks contractions can take you by surprise and even trick you into thinking you're entering labor. Also called "warm- up" or "toning" contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions are your body's way of preparing the uterus for labor. And they can send even the most seasoned mother to the hospital – only for her to find out that her Braxton Hicks are causing "false labor."

Many women report having more of these contractions later in the day when they are tired or haven't had enough to drink. If you're having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, don't stop your normal activities, but do make sure you stay well hydrated and take some time to get off your feet during the day.

Understanding Braxton Hicks contractions during pregnancy - when they occur, what they're like, and how to relieve them, as well as how your true labor contractions will differ - can help you interpret what is occurring in your body, and when it's really time to go to the hospital or call your OB doctor.

When Do Braxton Hicks Contractions Start During Pregnancy?

As with most all pregnancy matters, Braxton Hicks contractions are different for every woman. All pregnant women experience these contractions but not all expecting mothers are aware they occur. Some women don't feel any kind of contraction until delivery day, and that is completely normal. You don't need to worry if you haven't felt any warm-up contractions.

Many women, however, do feel their Braxton Hicks contractions, usually any time after the 20- week marker of pregnancy. While some women feel them this early, others may not experience any until the later weeks of pregnancy. In second and third pregnancies, some mothers say they're Braxton Hicks contractions start earlier.

What Do Braxton Hicks Contractions Feel Like?

Braxton Hicks contractions often begin very mildly, feeling like a tightening sensation across the uterus. They may become stronger in the later weeks of pregnancy. Their strength and recurrence is how expecting mothers confuse them with true labor contractions.

The job of a true labor contraction is to dilate the cervix. Braxton Hicks contractions, you may remember, work only to tone the uterus and do not cause the cervix to dilate. Of course, you can't tell if your cervix is dilated unless you go in and have your obstetrician or midwife check you, but Braxton Hicks contractions have other distinct characteristics like:

• Their intensity doesn't change. Braxton Hicks contractions usually remain fairly weak, while true labor contractions grow increasingly intense.


• They go away with a change in activity. If you're sitting down and having Braxton-Hicks contractions, they will usually go away if you get up and walk around. If you've been moving around, the opposite is true – try resting for a while and the contractions should go away. True contractions, on the other hand, do not go away with changes in activity.

• They feel like a tightening across the front of the uterus. True labor contractions, on the other hand, wrap from the top of the abdomen down, and wrap across the front of the abdomen and around the back.


• They are irregular. The length and frequency of Braxton Hicks contraction varies. True labor contractions occur at regular intervals and last at least thirty seconds. Real contractions will also grow longer and closer together.

What Causes Braxton Hicks Contractions?

While they may occur without reason, there are some known life factors that cause women to have Braxton Hicks contractions:

• Strenuous exercise or activity
• Dehydration

• Sex, particularly orgasm
• Someone touching the mother's belly

Many women report having more of these contractions later in the day when they are tired or haven't had enough to drink. If you're having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, don't stop your normal activities, but do make sure that you stay well hydrated and take some time to get off your feet during the day. A warm bath or a cup of tea can also help to relieve your contractions.

Accompanying Signs of Early Labor

If you are getting close to your due date and are experiencing contractions, you should be aware of the signs of early labor that accompany true labor contractions:

• Lower back ache, or pain in your abdomen or pelvis
• Loose stools
• Brown-tinged mucous

• Watery discharge
• Increased urination

If you experience any of these signs along with regularly occurring contractions, you are probably in labor. You may not need to go to the hospital right away, but you should contact your OB doctor or midwife to let them know what symptoms you are experiencing and how far apart your contractions are.

Braxton Hicks contractions present themselves so differently in successive pregnancies that even the most seasoned mothers can be confused , not to mention first-time mothers. The best way to have peace of mind about these contractions, besides educating yourself, is to stay in close contact with your OB doctor and midwife.

Florida's obstetricians and midwives at All About Women want you to feel confident with every step of your pregnancy. If you're concerned about contractions, or think you a re pregnant and need to ensure you and your baby are healthy, contact our Gainesville or Lake City office to schedule an appointment today.

Related KC and Blog Articles

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Braxton-Hicks contractions, or false labor pains, are irregular contractions and relaxation of the uterine muscles 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.

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.
• 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.	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.
Do contractions 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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Training contractions: sensations | How long do training contractions last during pregnancy

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Contents:

1. What are practice bouts?
2. Why are they happening?
3. What week do training bouts start?
4. How long do practice bouts last?
5. How does it feel during training bouts?
6. Are training fights dangerous?
   • How can I tell practice contractions from labor contractions?
   • Is it possible to calculate training bouts somehow easier?
   • What to do?

“I started having contractions, hurry to the maternity hospital!” yells the wife early Saturday morning. A sleepy husband drives a car through the streets of the city, and... at the next traffic light, it turns out that everything has passed. A happy, but slightly bewildered couple stops by a nearby cafe for breakfast. Similar situations happen quite often, and training bouts are to blame. Let's figure out what they are and how to distinguish them from the real ones.

What are practice contractions?

As the name suggests, they are not real. These contractions of the uterus are not directed to the beginning of the birth process. Usually they are irregular, rare and do not bring significant pain ¹ .

This phenomenon has other names. Sometimes they are called even more obviously - false, as opposed to true labor pains. In specialized literature, you can find the term "Braxton-Hicks contractions" after the name of an English obstetrician-gynecologist ² , who first drew attention to them and described them.

Why do they happen?

Medicine has no exact answer to this question. There is not even a consensus on whether they are part of the normal pregnancy process or a deviation from it. Most experts adhere to the first version, considering them to be a warm-up of the body before real childbirth ³ .

It is assumed that false contractions are needed to maintain the tone of the uterus - she, like any other muscular organ, requires periodic exercise. On the other hand, the time of arrival and the frequency of training contractions are very different for different women, and for some mothers who have successfully given birth, these sensations are not at all familiar.

What week do practice bouts start?

They can start already in the middle of pregnancy - from the 20th week ¹ , in rare cases even earlier. 2–3 weeks before the planned date, their frequency often increases. In this period, they are called precursors, emphasizing that it is not long before the birth. However, even in the later stages, training contractions do not cause the cervix to open and continue to be only a preparation of the body for the main event.

Start of training bouts by weeks of pregnancy.

How long do practice bouts last?

Contractions last a few seconds, rarely up to 1 minute, and end as suddenly as ¹ comes. Further, the expectant mother begins to listen to her feelings and wait for new ones, but they do not repeat. When the woman has already completely calmed down, the contractions can return after a considerable time - 4-5 hours.

After several unexpected cases, false contractions become habitual, and the expectant mother ceases to be afraid of them. However, in the last weeks until X hour, they can again surprise you - often training contractions before childbirth become longer and more intense.

In order not to confuse training contractions with real ones, you need to know about the harbingers of childbirth. We share all the necessary information here.

How does it feel during training bouts?

False contractions are not painful, but unfortunately, if this is your first pregnancy, you have nothing to compare. But there is another sure sign: all the muscles of the uterus participate in labor pains, and during training pain sensations are localized only in one area ⁴ .

Periodicity and localization of training contractions of the second and the beginning of the third trimester, premonitory contractions, labor pains. Example.

False contractions usually present as muscle spasm in the back, front, or top of the uterus. The intervals between them are irregular, and it is impossible to predict where the attack will move next time. A few weeks before the birth, training contractions, which are now called precursor contractions, will become more frequent, but will retain their character - an attack localized in one area of ​​​​the uterus. During labor pains, all the muscles of the uterus contract at the same time.

To know exactly how labor begins, read the signs and symptoms of labor.

Training contractions are dangerous?

There is no evidence that training contractions have any effect on fetal development. Their only danger is psychological. Some women, having felt unexpected contractions of the uterus, fall into a panic, and in this state they can do stupid things.

During pregnancy, you need to worry less. If something causes you mild anxiety, try to distract yourself. For example, take our fun quiz about what kind of mother you would be in the animal world.

Remember that the beginning of any contractions, even labor, does not mean that you will give birth in the next few minutes. There is time, so you need to calm down, take a deep breath, and listen to your feelings. If you're not sure if it's practice or real contractions, call your doctor and describe your symptoms. After listening to your answers, he will tell you what to do - go to the hospital or stay at home.

How to distinguish training contractions from labor contractions?

Expectant mothers almost accurately determine training contractions during the second and subsequent pregnancies. While you still have no experience, we recommend paying attention to the following signs ⁵ :

• Training contractions are rarely painful, rather unexpected. What can not be said about labor - many women compare these sensations with very severe pain during menstruation.

• Training contractions can usually be stopped. Leisurely walking around the room, breathing exercises and other calming exercises can completely eliminate discomfort in the uterus.

• They do not differ in regularity and do not have obvious dynamics. In real fights, on the contrary, there is a regularity, a gradual increase in duration and a decrease in the interval between them.

For simplicity, we have collected the distinguishing features of false and true contractions in the table:

Is it possible to calculate training bouts somehow easier?

Mumlife contraction counter.

It just won't work. You still have to listen to your feelings and fix them. But you can get yourself an assistant - a special mobile application for calculating the duration and intervals between contractions. All of these apps work intuitively - all you have to do is press the big button each time an attack starts or ends.

In addition to recording and visualizing contractions, the application has useful additional functions. It tracks the dynamics of seizures and will tell you if it looks like a birth. And it will even show how much time you have left to get to the hospital.

What to do?

You can do nothing - after a while, the training bouts will pass by themselves. However, there are several proven methods ⁵ that help reduce the discomfort during false contractions and make them disappear quickly. Here are some of them:

• Walk around the house.

  Calm, slow walking in most cases allows you to get rid of unexpected uterine contractions. If the weather is good outside, and there is a place suitable for exercise nearby, you can get some fresh air at the same time - this will not be superfluous.

• Lie down and relax.

  If you are not in the mood for walking right now, lie down on the sofa or bed, take a comfortable position and think of something good. It is noticed that the best results are obtained by lying on the left side.

• Take a bath or shower.

  Water relaxes and is just what you need for training bouts. Fill the tub with water or stand under the shower and wait for the contractions to end there - most likely, this will happen very soon. But remember: only warm water, no hot baths and contrast showers!

• Drink some water.

  Dehydration can cause muscle cramps and is therefore also considered a factor in false contractions. Pour a glass of water and drink it slowly, alternating sips, inhales and exhales. Water can be replaced with some other drink, but only a useful one, for example, berry juice or rosehip broth.

• Do breathing exercises.

  Proper breathing techniques are useful not only during training bouts. Before childbirth, they help to calm down, during childbirth - to relieve pain and better control your body. While the body is training the uterus, you are training your breathing.

• Go to the toilet.

  A full bladder is considered one of the culprits of false contractions: it puts pressure on the uterus, provoking its contractions. So before you settle into bed or go for a walk, do not forget to visit the toilet.

• Walk around the house.

  Calm, slow walking in most cases allows you to get rid of unexpected uterine contractions. If the weather is good outside, and there is a place suitable for exercise nearby, you can get some fresh air at the same time - this will not be superfluous.

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