What are Braxton Hicks contractions?
Just after the middle of your pregnancy, or earlier, you may notice the muscles of your uterus (womb) tightening. If you place your hands on your bare bump when it happens, you'll feel how hard your bump becomes.
Advertisement | page continues below
Each tightening usually lasts less than a minute
(Jackson et al 2014), and probably won't cause you any discomfort
(Murray and Hassall 2014). You may feel your muscles tightening once or twice an hour, or a few times a day
(Hagood Milton 2017). Or you may not even be aware of them.
It's possible to feel Braxton Hicks contractions as early as
16 weeks (Bharj and Daniels 2017). Your uterus has been contracting gently on and off all the time without you realising
(Murray and Hassall 2014, Rabotti and Mischi 2014). The bigger your uterus gets, the more you'll notice the tightening sensations when they happen.
What do Braxton Hicks contractions do?
They may just be a sign that your uterus is keeping its muscle fibres toned, ready for the efforts of labour.
Some experts think that Braxton Hicks contractions help get your cervix ready for birth, too. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, your cervix gets shorter and stretchier (Simkin and Ancheta 2011, Walsh 2017), so it can open up and make way for your baby (Jackson et al 2014, Walsh 2017).
What if Braxton Hicks contractions become painful?
As your pregnancy progresses, these contractions may become more intense, and even painful at times (Jackson et al 2014, Murray and Hassall 2014).
When this happens, they may feel like the real thing. But however strong they feel at the time, if they ease off, they’re probably Braxton Hicks rather than true labour.
Try to think of Braxton Hicks as practice contractions (NHS 2018) that help you rehearse breathing exercises ready for labour. Focus on your out-breath when you have a Braxton Hicks contraction, making it long and slow.
Advertisement | page continues below
If you sign up for
antenatal class, your instructor will show you how to do this. Our
relaxation audio can also guide you about breathing during labour.
You may notice that Braxton Hicks contractions come more often when you do some light activity, such as carrying bags. If you feel discomfort, it sometimes helps to lie down, or to
take a walk. It's the change in activity that can help ease pain
(Hagood Milton 2017). A
warm bath may help, too.
How are Braxton Hicks different from labour contractions?
Braxton Hicks contractions:
- Are infrequent, and usually happen no more than once or twice an hour, a few times a day (Hagood Milton 2017).
- Often stop if you change activity (Hagood Milton 2017). So walk about if you've been sitting, and sit down if you've been on your feet for a while.
- Are usually irregular (Hagood Milton 2017), or if they’re regular, only stay that way for a short time (Jackson et al 2014).
- Don't last long, usually less than a minute (Jackson et al 2014).
- Continue to be unpredictable and non-rhythmic.
- Don't increase in intensity (Hagood Milton 2017).
Compared with Braxton Hicks, labour contractions:
Advertisement | page continues below
- are noticeably, and increasingly, longer
- are more regular
- are more frequent
- increase in intensity
(Hagood Milton 2017)
In late pregnancy, you’ll go into the prelabour stage. This is when Braxton Hicks contractions may follow a pattern, perhaps coming every 10 to 20 minutes (Murray and Hassall 2014).
Prelabour can be hard to tell apart from early labour, particularly if the tightening of your uterus feels uncomfortable. During prelabour your cervix won't have started to open yet (Simkin and Ancheta 2011). Your midwife or doctor will be able to tell by carrying out a vaginal examination.
Try to welcome prelabour tightenings and discomfort. It's an encouraging sign that your cervix is changing, and that things are moving in the right direction.
Advertisement | page continues below
When should I call my doctor or midwife?
Before 37 weeks
Call your doctor or midwife if you have contractions every 10 minutes, or more often, and:
- Watery discharge, a pinkish vaginal discharge, or an increase in vaginal discharge. This may mean that your waters have broken.
- Vaginal bleeding, even if it’s light bleeding.
- Lower back pain that won’t ease even if you change positions, or period-like cramps, along with diarrhoea.
- A feeling of increasing pressure in your pelvis, especially if you feel it in your bottom.
- The urge to wee more often.
- Flu-like symptoms, nausea or vomiting.
(Johnson 2016, Tommy’s 2017)
These are signs that you may be going into premature labour.
A technique that may be used in some hospitals to check whether you’re in premature labour is the fetal fibronectin test, which is a bit like having a cervical screen or pap smear test (SUH 2018).
Fetal fibronectin is protein that sticks the membranes around your baby to the walls of your womb. If the test shows that you have fetal fibronectin in your vagina, it may mean you'll have your baby sooner than expected, and doctors can plan your care (SUH 2018).
After 37 weeks
Call your doctor or midwife if you:
Advertisement | page continues below
Advertisement | page continues below
If your contractions become longer, stronger, more regular and more frequent, your labour may be starting (NHS 2018).
Your doctor or midwife will probably have talked to you about what to do when you think labour has started. But if you're in any doubt, give her or the hospital delivery suite a call.
Find out more about signs you may be in labour.
