What are Braxton Hicks?

Are they real contractions? Do all the women have them? How do I know if they are real contractions or just braxton hicks?

To start simple, a Braxton Hicks contraction is just an intermittent tightness in your abdomen. Your uterus is contracting in preparation for delivering. They may also assist in preparing the cervix for delivery while toning the muscles in your uterus.

– It is important to know that Braxton Hicks contractions do not initiate labor and do not signal the start of labor.

How do Braxton Hicks contractions feel?

They usually feel like muscles tightening across your abdomen. Besides, if you put your hands on your belly during the contraction, you will probably feel your uterus becoming hard.

These contractions are quite irregular and only last 30 seconds. Women that have already had a pregnancy and that know about the contractions of giving birth, usually can differentiate them. Braxton Hicks are uncomfortable but not painful as the “real” ones can be.

The woman that feels Braxton Hicks, is going to feel them during all of their pregnancy? or it is only in the last weeks?

Even though these contractions are more common in the third half of the pregnancy, they can occur as early as 16 weeks pregnant.

In late pregnancies, Braxton Hicks can be present very frequently, happening as frequently as each 20 minutes or less, this process is called prelabor. Your body is still not ready to give birth, but it is starting to prepare.

And what is the difference between labor contractions and Braxton Hicks?

There are some differences between them that can be useful to determine if you are in labor: