{"id":20689,"date":"2021-12-31T14:17:17","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T13:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=20689"},"modified":"2022-01-03T11:52:13","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T10:52:13","slug":"false-labor-what-are-braxton-hicks-contractions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/false-labor-what-are-braxton-hicks-contractions\/","title":{"rendered":"False Labor: What Are Braxton-Hicks Contractions?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy<\/span><\/a>. What a wild ride. Your body is growing, stretching, softening, and doing all sorts of other things that may be new territory to you. <\/span>Not only that, but you\u2019re experiencing plenty of new sensations. ‘Was that foot pressing on my liver?’, ‘Are you having a party in there while I\u2019m trying to sleep?’, ‘Hiccups…inside of me?!’. Lots of fun, and not so fun, things are going on with your body. <\/span>One of the biggest things pregnant people are concerned about is labor, birth, and\u2026contractions. <\/span>Contractions<\/span><\/a> are the body’s way of opening and softening the cervix, which is the passageway between the uterus and the vagina. This is necessary for a vaginal birth. The other role of contractions is to push the baby down through the pelvis and out the vagina.\u00a0 <\/span>People who have a cesarean section may still experience contractions if they happen to go into early labor before the surgery, or if they have a last-minute or emergency c-section after already being in labor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Contractions don\u2019t just happen when the baby is about to come out though. Some people experience contractions for weeks, sometimes months, before they actually go into labor. These early contractions are called <\/span>Braxton-Hicks<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 <\/span>What exactly are Braxton-Hicks contractions? Can you do anything to ease the discomfort? And when should you contact your medical provider? Let\u2019s find out!<\/span><\/p>\n

Braxton-Hicks 101<\/b><\/p>\n

Braxton-Hicks contractions can be exciting and\/or alarming \u2013 especially for first-time parents. You may think you need to speed-dial your medical providers, grab your birth bag, and hit the ground running, but hold tight for a second (your uterus sure is). <\/span>Braxton-Hicks contractions often called prodromal or false labor, are your body\u2019s way of preparing for the journey ahead \u2013 real labor. This is because unlike contractions during labor, Braxton-Hicks don\u2019t typically cause changes to the cervix. Although some experts suggest that while they don\u2019t dilate the cervix, they may play a role in softening it, which is also necessary for a vaginal birth. Another role of Braxton-Hicks is that they may <\/span>promote blood flow<\/span><\/a> to the <\/span>placenta<\/span><\/a>, the baby\u2019s source of nutrients and oxygen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People tend to notice Braxton-Hicks around the third trimester of pregnancy, although they may start sooner. They tend to increase in frequency and intensity towards the end of pregnancy. Not only that, typically pregnant people experience more intense Braxton-Hicks contractions with each subsequent pregnancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Do Braxton Hicks Contractions Feel Like?<\/b><\/p>\n

Braxton-Hicks are often described as feeling like mild menstrual cramps. What\u2019s actually happening in the body is that the muscle fibers in the uterus are tightening and relaxing. <\/span>While they\u2019re typically painless, they can feel uncomfortable. They tend to be concentrated in the abdomen and can make your belly feel tight.\u00a0 <\/span>Braxton-Hicks are unpredictable, usually lasting 30 to 90 seconds, and do not follow a pattern. True Braxton-Hicks become weak then disappear, only to show up again another time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can You Do Anything About Braxton-Hicks?<\/b><\/p>\n

While some discomfort is a given in pregnancy, there are things you can do to ease Braxton-Hicks contractions. <\/span>The triggers for Braxton-Hicks are typically being very active, very full, having sex, or being dehydrated. With this in mind, here are some to ease Braxton-Hicks contractions:<\/span><\/p>\n