Why are they called braxton hicks contractions
Braxton Hicks Contractions | American Pregnancy Association
You might have heard this funny phrase before you were pregnant, but now you want to know what it means. The term originated in 1872 when an English doctor named John Braxton Hicks described the contractions that occur before real labor. Imagine constantly thinking, “This must be it,” only to find out that it wasn’t. Doctors and pregnant women have Dr. Hicks to thank for eliminating the confusion. The following information should be helpful in determining the difference between true labor and Braxton Hicks contractions.
Braxton Hicks contractions can begin as early as the second trimester. However, they are most commonly experienced in the third trimester. When this happens, the muscles of the uterus tighten for approximately 30 to 60 seconds, and sometimes as long as two minutes.
Braxton Hicks are also called “practice contractions” because they are a preparation for the real event and allow the opportunity to practice the breathing exercises taught in childbirth classes.
What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like?
Braxton Hicks contractions start as an uncomfortable but painless tightening that begins at the top of your uterine muscles and spreads downwards. They cause your abdomen to become very hard and strangely contorted (almost pointy). Once you get closer to your estimated due date, they will become more frequent and intense.
They are described as:
- Irregular in intensity and usually last about 15 to 30 seconds, but sometimes as long as two minutes
- Infrequent
- Unpredictable
- Non-rhythmic
- More uncomfortable than painful (although for some women Braxton Hicks can feel painful)
- They do not increase in intensity or frequency
- They taper off and then disappear altogether
If your contractions are easing up in any way, they are most likely Braxton Hicks.
What causes them?
There are possible causes of these contractions.
Some physicians and midwives believe that they play a part in toning the uterine muscle and promoting the flow of blood to the placenta. They are not thought to have a role in dilating the cervix but might have some impact on the softening of the cervix.
However, as Braxton Hicks contractions intensify nearer the time of delivery, the contractions are often referred to as false labor. When this occurs, it can help the dilation and effacement process.
What triggers them?
The following are triggers of Braxton Hicks:
- When the mother or the baby is very active
- If someone touches the mother’s belly
- When the bladder is full
- After sex
- Dehydration
What can I do to alleviate Braxton Hicks contractions?
- Change positions. You can lie down if you have been standing or go for a walk if you have been sitting or laying
- Take a warm bath for 30 minutes or less
- Because contractions may be brought on by dehydration, drink a couple of glasses of water
- Drink a warm cup of herbal tea or milk
If none of these steps work, you should contact your health care provider.
Want to Know More?
- Signs of Labor
- Pregnancy Pains
- Stages of Labor: Stage 1
Compiled using information from the following sources:
1. William’s Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch. 17.
2. Mayo Clinic Guide To A Healthy Pregnancy Harms, Roger W., M.D., et al, Ch. 11.
Who is Braxton Hicks? And What Is He Doing In My Uterus??
So you have hit your second trimester and you’ve started to hear the term “Braxton Hicks.”
Just when you’re starting to become aware of the fact that your body is changing, it’s getting weird, and there is a human growing in there, a muscle flexes. A muscle that you’ve never given much thought to (well, maybe once per month). A new sensation to add to your growing list of things you’ll experience during pregnancy.
Ah, good ‘ol Braxton Hicks. A little British man “with a cheerful expression” named John Braxton Hicks has now forever implanted into your pregnancy journey.
Braxton Hicks contractions are pretty much any non-labor contractions. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a few tricks to decide whether or not the sensations you feel are Braxton Hicks contractions or true labor contractions. Understanding the timing of contractions—how far apart contractions are, how long each contraction lasts, whether they are regular and getting closer together—is one trick.
When we interviewed members of the birth community about Braxton Hicks vs. labor contractions they also added their suggestions for distinguishing the two on your own. But, really the only way to know is to have a medical professional do a cervical exam. Labor contractions, by definition, are contractions that cause cervical change. Once the cervix starts to dilate, labor has begun and every contraction will start working its way to the end goal of getting that baby out.
As for those Braxton Hicks contractions, the running assumption is that they help tone and prepare your body for labor.
The uterus is smooth muscle, its flexes are involuntary, like the heart. You cannot directly cause your uterus to contract, just as you cannot directly cause your heart to beat.
The pregnant uterus is truly an incredible organ: it will grow from the size of an orange to the size of a watermelon by the end of pregnancy. It will constantly change and strengthen to prepare for its big moment as a baby expulsion machine. Perhaps the Braxton Hicks contraction is your uterus’ way of hitting the gym.
Labor Contractions are contractions that cause cervical change.
So, now back to the question at hand, who the hell is Braxton Hicks?
Dr. John Braxton Hicks gets the naming rights to those non-labor-inducing contractions you might feel throughout pregnancy because he was the first one to acknowledge that the magic and wonder of the pregnant uterus begins long before labor. In fact, before he came onto the obstetric scene in the mid- 1800’s, doctors believed that the uterus acquired a “new power to contract” only at the very end of pregnancy.
Not so, argued Dr. Braxton Hicks:
“After many years’ constant observation, I have ascertained it to be a fact that the uterus possesses the power and habit of spontaneously contracting and relaxing from a very early period of pregnancy.”
To jump to the end of his long road of uterine enlightenment, basically, Dr. Braxton Hicks spent nearly a decade putting his hands on many pregnant bellies, feeling the tightening and releasing of muscle flexing. When he realized that these patients did not have a baby on the way, he concluded that not only were these contractions spontaneous but also a natural part of pregnancy. In his descriptions, he noted that the contractions began as early as three months and increase in the second trimester. As Dr. Braxton Hicks notes:
“Most frequently it occurs every five or ten minutes, sometimes even twice in five minutes.”
Although over 150 years have passed since he first described these non-labor-inducing contractions, the name “Braxton Hicks” has remained attached to them.
While you wait for the big day, think of that incredible muscle of yours preparing for her big moment to shine. (And my apologies if your contractions start taking on a British accent.)
Learn about your own Braxton Hicks contractions with the Bloomlife at-home contraction monitor.
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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 resolves.
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 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 the baby”
How to distinguish them from real contractions, and why they are needed, we will try to find out.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
• 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.
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.
• 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.
• 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.
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.
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.
