WHAT ARE BRAXTON HICKS CONTRACTIONS?
Written by Feba Maryann
Pregnancy is similar to running a marathon in more ways than one can imagine. The involved individual has to watch their diet, get the right amount of physical activity, and keep their energy stable for the final day. Braxton Hicks contractions are one such step in the preparation for labour. These abdominal contractions appear in order to prepare the expecting parent’s uterus and cervix for the taxing activity of giving birth.
Explaining Braxton Hicks Contractions
Named after the doctor who discovered the phenomena in pregnant individuals, these contractions are common in almost all pregnancies. Braxton Hicks contractions pass unknowingly as tightening of the abdominal muscles and the baby bump looks hardened, especially from the late second trimester onwards. Each of these contractions can last anywhere between 30 seconds to 2 minutes and is rarely accompanied by pain. Some people may feel these contractions like menstrual cramps.
A key point to note about Braxton Hicks contractions is that they do not come closer or stronger with time. Most of the time, they disappear when the expecting parent moves or empties their bladder. Even though the differences from real labour contractions are minute, these changes need to be noted in order to judge whether you are going into preterm labour. Most parents inching towards their due dates mistake Braxton Hicks contractions for labour and worry themselves. This is also why Braxton Hicks contractions are called ‘false labour.’
Reasons Behind Braxton Hicks Contractions
Ultimately, Braxton Hicks contractions occur in order to prepare the body for smoother labour. The abdominal muscles and the muscles lining the uterine wall need to contract strongly while giving birth for the baby to be expelled from the womb. The cervix also needs to soften and expand to let the foetus pass through the birth canal without any hitch. The body uses the Braxton Hicks contractions to train these muscles involved for labour. Through these contractions, the muscles get toned for optimal performance when the due date arrives.
Certain instances during the pregnancy also set off Braxton Hicks contractions in pregnant individuals. Working out or intercourse during the gestational period can induce these false contractions once the physical activity is completed. Being on your feet for a long time also can result in these contractions. Towards the later stages of the pregnancy, having a full bladder can bring on Braxton Hicks contractions. This is the reason why pregnant individuals wet themselves unknowingly.
Foetal movements also trigger Braxton Hicks contractions in individuals. Sometimes, nausea or vomiting during the pregnancy can also bring on these contractions. Dehydration is another factor influencing these contractions.
Distinguishing Braxton Hicks Contractions and Real Contractions
It is important to distinguish the symptoms of Braxton Hicks and real contractions because misunderstands can yield disastrous results. If the contractions are relatively painless and stop when you change positions, go on a walk, or take a nap, they are false contractions. These do not fall a pattern while occurring as well as the intensity and frequency of the contractions remain the same.
If you are closer to your due date, somewhere near the 37th week of pregnancy, then the contractions need to be closely monitored. If there is a pattern in which the contractions appear and the pain gradually increases along with contractions that are closer in timing, you might be going into labour. Some complicated pregnancies have painless contractions that last for more than 3 hours, most of the time, these contractions mean you are going into labour before term.
Also, real contractions do not go away if you switch positions. In fact, the contractions become stronger as you stand up or walk. Slight vaginal bleeding or the ‘bloody show’, gush of vaginal discharge or ‘breaking of water’, or pain in the pelvic, abdominal, or back regions are signs of labour.
Final Thoughts
Many expecting parents lack the necessary resources to educate themselves on the differences between false and real contractions. Sometimes it leads to unwanted panic and medical examinations whereas in some cases, failure to recognise the signs of labour leads to miscarriages, damages to the foetus, and may even prove to be fatal for both the baby and the parent. Preterm labour can be a little tricky to catch so to err on the side of caution, visit your OB/GYN if the contractions are getting too uncomfortable for you to manage or lasts more than 2-3 hours.