how soon do u have braxton hicks contractions?

Question

how soon before u have braxton hicks? i kno its a false labor thingy, but when can u start? are they the same thing as feeling like your hips are being pulled apart? cuz thats what i feel like. 6weeks pregnant first time. my mom said that is too early is that tru?anything can help me! thanks everyone!

Answer 1

Right, I've been through 2 pregnancies. During my first I never had Braxton Hicks contractions until about the last month, in the second I had them from 3 months.
Contrary to popular belief, these are not supposed to be so painfull. What happens is the uterus stretches as the baby grows, these sometimes causes mild discomfort. But this is not what we're looking at here. Braxton Hicks normally feel more like cramps, (period pains), due to the relaxing of the wallsof the uterus. You can also get lower back pain.
It depends from person to person, some people feel their labour only as a mild discomforting pain in their lower back, others have excruciating pain across the abdomen.
This is all due to the stretching and relaxing of the uterus.

But don't worry about all that. If you are still in pain, see your doctor for a check up.
Enjoy your pregnancy, you might feel like a whale eventually, but a woman is at her most beautifull during pregnancy.
It's a wonderfull experience!!!

Answer 2

At 6 weeks ... it is really too early to feel to contractions. You may be feeling the ligaments around the uterus stretching.

I would suggest calling your OB/GYN as soon as you can or if the pain gets worse, go to the ER.

Below is information about Braxton-Hicks:

Braxton Hicks contractions
Reviewed by Ann Linden, CNM
Last updated: July 2005

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/pregnancy/childbirth/156.html

What are Braxton Hicks contractions?

Braxton Hicks are sporadic uterine contractions that actually start at about 6 weeks, although you won't be able to feel them that early. You probably won't start to notice them until sometime after midpregnancy, if you notice them at all (some women don't). They get their name from John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor who first described them in 1872.

As your pregnancy progresses, Braxton Hicks contractions tend to come somewhat more often, but until you get to your last few weeks, they should remain infrequent, irregular, and essentially painless. Sometimes, though, Braxton Hicks are hard to distinguish from early signs of preterm labor. Play it safe and don't try to make the diagnosis yourself. If you haven't hit 37 weeks yet and you're having four or more contractions in an hour, or have any other signs of preterm labor, call your caregiver immediately.

By the time you're within a couple of weeks of your due date, these contractions may get more intense and more frequent, and cause some discomfort. Unlike the earlier painless and sporadic Braxton Hicks contractions that caused no obvious cervical change, these may help your cervix "ripen": gradually soften and efface, and maybe even begin to dilate a bit. This period is sometimes referred to as "pre-labor."

How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and true labor contractions?

In the days or weeks before labor, Braxton Hicks contractions may intermittently become rhythmic, relatively close together, and even painful, at times fooling you into thinking you're in labor. But unlike true labor, during this so-called "false labor" the contractions don't grow consistently longer, stronger, and closer together.

What can I do if my Braxton Hicks contractions are making me uncomfortable?

If you're within a few weeks of your due date, try these measures:

• Change your activity or position. Sometimes walking provides relief, and other times resting eases your contractions. (Real labor contractions, on the other hand, will persist and progress regardless of what you do.)

• Take a warm bath to help your body relax.

• Try drinking a couple glasses of water, since these contractions can sometimes be brought on by dehydration.

• Try relaxation exercises or slow, deep breathing. This won't stop the Braxton Hicks contractions, but it may help you cope with the discomfort. (Use this opportunity to practice some of the pain-management strategies you learned in your childbirth preparation class.)

When should I call my doctor or midwife?

Call your caregiver right away if you haven't reached 37 weeks and your contractions are becoming more frequent, rhythmic, or painful, or if you have any of these possible signs of preterm labor:

• Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt).

• Any vaginal bleeding or spotting.

• An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — if it becomes watery, mucousy, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged).

• Increased pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby's pushing down).

• Low back pain, especially if it's a new problem for you.

If you're past 37 weeks, there's no need to call your doctor or midwife until your contractions last 60 seconds each and are five minutes apart, unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise.

Answer 3

braxton hicks contractions serve as warm-up exercises for labor and become so strong and noticeable in the last month of pregnancy that they may be mistaken for labor contractions (false labor). they can be differentiated from true labor contractions on internal examination because they do not cause cervical dilation.although these contractions are always present with pregnancy, they also could accompany any growing uterine mass and are more than a probable sign of pregnancy

Answer 4

you actually have braxton hicks all throughout pregnancy, but you dont feel it. in fact you rarely feel it. it could be what you are feeling is your ligaments stretching. with my pregnancy it hurt so much I was doubled over in pain. the ligaments that hold your uterus are what stretches. hope it feels better

Answer 5

They, for me didnt start till I was around 7months. If you are only 6 weeks, it could be just your body stretching, growing and making room for baby!! But you should call your dr. Congrats on you little one!!

Answer 6

6wks is way too early; you should call your doctor and make an appointment just to make sure all it well!

Braxton-Hicks Contractions

These "practice" contractions occur at various times during pregnancy, but can increase in intensity during your last month. They happen at random and are typically not painful - some women do not even notice them. They do not dilate the cervix as "real" contractions, do.

pregnancytoday.com/resource/definitions/braxhicks.htm


Braxton Hicks contractions


During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, you may notice episodes when your belly tightens and becomes firm to the touch, then relaxes. These are episodes of tightening (contraction) of the uterine muscles called Braxton Hicks contractions. These normal contractions may be hardly noticeable or may be strong enough to make you stop what you are doing.

Considered "warm-up" exercises for the uterus, Braxton Hicks contractions can begin as early as the 20th week of pregnancy, although most often they start between the 28th and 30th week.

Braxton Hicks contractions are usually infrequent in midpregnancy. However, they can be more frequent during the ninth month, sometimes occurring as often as every 10 to 20 minutes.1 Braxton Hicks contractions usually occur less than 4 to 6 times per hour.

Braxton Hicks contractions:

Usually disappear during exercise or activity (unlike true labor pains, which continue or increase if you move around).
Are more noticeable during rest.
It may be difficult to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks contractions and true labor. If there is any doubt, consult your health professional.

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/hw195805.asp



Braxton Hicks' contractions, also known as false labour (British English, false labor in American English) or practice contractions, occur during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. It is a tightening of the uterine muscles for one to two minutes and is thought to be an aid to the body in its preparation for birth. Not all expectant mothers have these contractions which can start as early as 20 weeks into the pregnancy. They are thought to be part of the process of effacement, the thinning and dilation of the cervix.

Braxton Hicks are named after the English doctor who first described them. In 1872, John Braxton Hicks investigated the latter stages of pregnancy and noted that many women felt contractions without being near birth. This process was usually painless but caused women confusion as to whether or not they were going into actual labor. It has since been found that Braxton Hicks' contractions are much less noticeable during exercise, whereas real contractions are not.

Dehydration is thought to be a contributing factor in extended Braxton Hicks contractions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braxton_Hicks


Braxton-Hicks contractions are normal during the last month of pregnancy. The fact that they are painful probably has more to do with the "contents" of the pelvis than the uterus itself.

The growing baby impinges on bladder, bowel, ovaries, the bony pelvis and the spine, which all are richly-innervated structures.

My recommendation in the "old days" would be to take a glass of wine, which inhibits uterine contractions, but of course, we know now that there is no safe level of alcohol intake during pregnancy. Some herbal teas may produce a similar relaxing effect.

This recipe and the herb list is borrowed from a textbook of healing herbs called "The Complete Woman's Herbal" by Anne McIntyre.

3 parts skullcap or passionflower
1 part sliced fresh ginger
2 parts wild yam

Mix 1 oz (25 gm) of herb to a pint of boiling water. Infuse for 20 minutes. Take a cupful three times a day.

Other herbs can be equally effective as teas or dilute tinctures:



black haw
black cohosh
cramp bark

These all relax the uterus and the whole pelvic area. They are all excellent remedies, and recommended for the over-powerful contractions of the uterus -- both during pregnancy and after birth.
Next Page: 12 things you need to know about Braxton-Hicks contractions .


12 Things You Need to Know

1. Get lots of rest. The real danger of these contractions is that they can disrupt sleep, which saps a woman's energy for labor.

2. Go to sleep later than usual. Babies are sometimes at their most active in the early nighttime hours, so it may work to adjust your bedtime to later, after the greatest period of fetal activity.

3. Rest lying on your side. When on her back, the uterus is more irritable and contracts more frequently. Resting with eyes closed is almost as good as sleep.

4. Graze. Eat around the clock, eating only small amounts each time.

5. Try decreasing dietary fiber. A diet that encourages a minimal response from the colon will keep the bowel a bit more quiet. Even though fiber is very good for you, try to decrease dietary intake for a while to see if that helps.

6. Drink lots of fluids.

7. Keep the bladder empty.

8. Avoid any nipple stimulation.

9. Avoid hot baths.

10. Look at your work. If your job brings you into contact with infants, this can cause sympathetic reflex contractions.

11.Consider contractions part of labor preparation. Though Braxton Hicks contractions are annoying and can rob a woman of much-needed rest, they do much to help prepare the cervix for labor.

12. Rule out pre-term labor. When associated with lower back pain, cramping, any vaginal bleeding, spotting or watery discharge, pains in the legs or anything else unusual, they may indicate pre-term labor.

Risk factors for pre-term labor include:



History of pre-term labor
Any cervical changes
Sexually transmitted diseases
Advancing maternal age
Hypertension or other maternal diseases
Substance use
Abuse
Multiple gestation.

http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/pthirdtri/0,,3pm3,00.html

Answer 7

usally it starts at like 6 months call your dr in the morning