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ORIGINAL POST:
Braxton Hicks Contractions
Towards the middle of your pregnancy (or earlier), you may notice the muscles of your uterus tightening for periods of 30 to 60 seconds. They get their name from John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor who first described them in 1872.
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. (Sometimes referred to as "Ripening")
How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labour contractions?
"You'll know real labour when it begins." is usually the answer you get. 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?
What should I do if they're uncomfortable?
Even when you do light physical activity, such as carrying in groceries from the van, your contractions will come more frequently. If you feel discomfort, it sometimes helps to lie down, or, on the other hand, to get up and take a walk, easing any pain you feel. A warm bath can help too. Drink a couple of glasses of water if the contractions bother you as they can sometimes be brought on by dehydration. A lack of adequate fluids tends to make your uterus more irritable. 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.
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.
It is recommend that you use Braxton Hicks contractions as an opportunity to practise the breathing exercises you'll learn in your antenatal class.
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