08/09/2021
𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘅𝘁𝗼𝗻-𝗛𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (named after an English Doctor who first noticed it,)are erratic tightening across the abdomen, the belly feels rigid when you touch it; it may come with discomfort but not pain.
The contractions are irregular tightenings of the uterus.
Think of them as “practice contractions.” Your uterus is practising for labour.
Braxton-Hicks are common in the later stages of pregnancy, as you approach your due date can certainly indicate that your body is preparing for labor, but there’s no need to assume that labor might be imminent.Moms usually describe them as feeling very tight, or as if their bump has suddenly gone hard. It can be very uncomfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful.
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙩?
The tightenings are brief, usually lasting around 15-30 seconds (although they can last up to 2 minutes). They are also irregular and will settle down for a while, then reappear later.
𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙈𝙞𝙙𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚
It’s easy to mistake Braxton-Hicks for true labour contractions. If you are unsure, time the tightenings for an hour. If the tightenings are getting stronger, closer together and are coming regularly, you are more likely to be going into labour.
If you’re worried, unsure, or have any bright-red bleeding or abdominal pain, or if you think your water has broken call your doctor. Don’t be anxious about possibly raising a false alarm.
𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘽𝙧𝙖𝙭𝙩𝙤𝙣 𝙃𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙?
There is no treatment for Braxton Hicks contractions. But there are things you can do to ease them, such as:
✿changing position
✿lying down if you’ve been very active – find out more about exercise in pregnancy
✿going for a walk if you’ve been sitting down for a long time
✿relaxing, such as taking a warm bath, having a massage, or having a nap
✿drinking some water to rehydrate.
Although they are popularly thought to help the uterus tone up for real contractions, some researchers believe that in later pregnancy they begin the process of effacement—when your cervix begins to open and draw upward, becoming part the wall of your uterus.
