Also known as false labor, Braxton Hicks contractions are key parts of your body’s natural pregnancy preparations. These contractions may become noticeable about halfway through gestation, but are most common during the third trimester. Learn more about these faux contractions as part of your ongoing prenatal care plan.

Top Questions About Braxton Hicks Contractions

What are Braxton Hicks contractions, exactly?

Named for the English doctor who distinguished between them and real labor contractions in 1872, Braxton Hicks contractions occur when the uterus tightens for 30 seconds to two minutes. While they can be uncomfortable, they are not painful or abnormal. These irregular contractions usually stop when you change your position. They may become more frequent in the weeks leading up to childbirth. While they don’t dilate the cervix like real contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions may help soften the cervix. In a sense, Braxton Hicks contractions are how your body makes its pregnancy preparations. 

How do I tell them apart from real contractions?

Unlike labor contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions are not regular and do not get closer together or feel stronger over the short term. Real labor contractions feel like strong menstrual cramps and last between 30 and 70 seconds. They don’t go away when you change your position. Actual contractions may also include bloody show, or a pinkish or blood-colored discharge that occurs as the body goes into labor.

What can I do about them?

Drink plenty of water to keep the uterine muscle from cramping. Try sitting down or standing up, or taking a walk to ease your discomfort. Other methods of lessening the contractions include taking a warm bath or getting a massage to relax the muscle. Breathing exercises learned during childbirth classes help as well. Someone touching your stomach can cause these contractions, as can sex, a full bladder, or exercise. 

When should I call my gynecologist?

If your contractions become more intense and frequent, you could be in real labor. Call your gynecologist if you have more than four contractions in an hour or experience serious pain. A membrane rupture – commonly known as water breaking – is another clear sign of actual labor. Also alert your OB-GYN clinic if you notice atypical vaginal discharge or believe you are going into premature labor.
 

To enjoy a healthy delivery, take advantage of the pregnancy preparation services offered at Advanced OB-GYN Services headed by Joseph Hazan, M.D., FACOG who will deliver your baby at Mercy, Missouri Baptist, De Paul or Progress West. With two locations in St. Charles and St. Louis counties, MO, this practice has served the community for over 30 years and delivered over 6,000 babies. They offer state-of-the-art services such as NovaSure®. Call (636) 928-1800 for the St. Peters office or (314) 291-2140 to schedule an appointment at their Bridgeton clinic. Visit the website for more about pregnancy preparation. Get the latest tips on Facebook.