Braxton Hicks contractions are painless contractions of the uterus during pregnancy that prepare it for labor. They can be mistaken for preterm labor, but after 37 weeks they indicate that things are going according to plan. Changing positions, drinking water, and herbal remedies can help ease discomfort.
Braxton Hicks contractions are contractions of the uterus during pregnancy. They are characterized by a painless squeezing of the uterus, which occurs sporadically and rarely starting in the sixth week of pregnancy, although many women do not notice it until more than halfway through pregnancy. These contractions were first documented by John Braxton Hicks, an English obstetrician, in 1872. They are also known as “practice” contractions, because they slowly prepare the uterus for the actual contractions it will experience during labor and delivery.
Although Braxton Hicks contractions are harmless, it’s often difficult for pregnant women to distinguish between them and preterm labor, which can be more serious. If a woman is less than 37 weeks pregnant, she should monitor for Braxton Hicks contractions if there are four or more in an hour. If your contractions become rhythmic, painful or increasingly frequent, accompanied by menstrual cramps or abdominal pain, you should contact your doctor or midwife immediately. These symptoms, along with vaginal bleeding or spotting or clear, pink, or bloodstained watery mucous discharge are all signs of preterm labor. Pelvic pressure and low back pain accompanied by increased Braxton Hicks contractions are also a cause for concern.
After 37 weeks, the baby is considered full-term and Braxton Hicks contractions indicate that things are going according to plan. As a woman nears her due date, these contractions may become more intense, because at this point they’re helping to “ripen” the cervix or soften and efface it. Once contractions, Braxton Hicks or regular, last 60 seconds and are separated by five minutes or less, it’s a good idea for a woman to call her health care provider or midwife. She may be in early labor. Whether it’s her first or your fifth child, no one knows how long or how fast labor will be, so it’s often better to be safe than sorry. Many mothers have given birth on the way to the hospital or emergency room because she attributed pre-labor contractions to Braxton Hicks contractions and waited because she was afraid of being sent home.
Most mothers agree that Braxton Hicks contractions can be one of the most uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy. A doctor will offer many suggestions to make a woman more comfortable about her as she experiences them. Changing positions should help stop them, and many women find that lying on their side is better than lying on their back.
If a woman is walking when she experiences Braxton Hicks contractions, she should try to sit up, and if she is resting, she may try to stand up and walk around. The distraction of physical activity sometimes masks contractions. Dehydration is thought to be one of the causes of Braxton Hicks contractions, so drinking a glass of water can help rest your uterus. Breathing techniques, a warm bath or shower, and emptying your bladder are all other things to try.
Of course, there are old wives’ remedies that claim to ease or stop these kinds of contractions. As these are not medical remedies, a pregnant woman should always consult a doctor before using any herbal remedy. In the “old days,” pregnant women would turn to a glass of wine, which inhibits uterine contractions, for help, but now alcohol isn’t recommended during pregnancy.
An herbal tea made from skullcap or passion flower, fresh ginger and wild yam is said to relax the uterus and the entire pelvic area. Other herbs used in teas or diluted tinctures that are thought to be remedies for Braxton Hicks contractions include black haw, black cohosh, and cramp bark. While all of these remedies can help ease pregnancy discomfort, a woman should remember that Braxton Hicks contractions are doing the important job of priming the uterus for labor.
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