When you are in the final stages of pregnancy, your body is preparing you for labour by alerting you with contractions. But, sometimes, the contractions you feel can be a false alarm. These contractions are called Braxton Hicks, named after the doctor who first described them.
What are Braxton Hicks contractions?
You can consider them as practice contractions or a rehearsal as your uterine muscles flex in preparation for the arrival of your baby very soon. They can be hard to differentiate from the real thing but they are not efficient enough to push your baby out the way real, labour contractions are.
What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like?
Braxton Hicks contractions start as an uncomfortable but painless tightening of the abdomen and tend to focus in one area. They don't always spread to the whole uterus and are not in a coordinated fashion.
When do Braxton Hicks contractions start?
You can begin to feel Braxton Hicks contractions any time after week 20 of pregnancy in the second trimester and they are more noticeable in the third trimester and may come more frequently the closer you get to your due date.
You won't notice any real pattern but the contractions will arrive from time to time, usually in the afternoon or evening and especially after you've had an active day. And they generally only last between 15 and 30 seconds, but can also be as long as two minutes.
Signs you are experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions
- contractions that come and go
- contractions that don't get closer or stronger together
- contractions that go away when you change positions or empty your bladder
What can you do about Braxton Hicks contractions?
- drink up - even minor dehydration can cause Braxton Hicks contractions
- move - try switching your position during a painful contraction (if you're standing up, sit down and vice versa). Walking and resting can help you cope and make a difference too.
- visualise - use these contractions as a way to practice your breathing techniques.
What are real labour contractions?
Real contractions occur when your body releases a hormone called oxytocin that stimulates your uterus to contract. They are a signal that your body is in labour. Most women feel real contractions at around week 40 of the pregnancy and real contractions that begin before week 37 is considered premature labour.
Real contractions tighten the top part of the uterus to push your baby downward into the birth canal in preparation for delivery. They also make your cervix thin to help your baby get through. If you touch your abdomen during a contraction, it feels hard.
It has been described the feeling of real contractions is like waves. The pain starts low, rises until it peaks, and fades away. Real 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). And they get more intense and painful over time.
The chart below summarises and can help you tell whether you are 'rehearsing' or having real contractions.
When to call the doctor
Don't hesitate to call your doctor or go to your delivery hospital when you're not sure whether you're in labour. You are better off looking for medical help, even if it is a false alarm. Labour signs can be confusing and preterm labour can be tricky too, so it is always best to talk to your doctor.
