what are the signs of braxton hicks contraction?

Answer 1

They occur in the 2nd/3rd trimester as contractions without even being near the set birth date.... You feel the muscles tightening up for a couple of minutes or so... but they dont happen to ALL pregnant women, and they are less painful or unnoticeable for women who exercises... they do somehow cause confusion of whether you are in labor or not!

Answer 2

What is Braxton Hicks?

1. A Braxton Hicks contraction is defined by Taber's Medical dictionary as an intermittent, painless contraction that may occur every 10 to 20 minutes after the first trimester of pregnancy. These contractions were first described in 1872 by British gynecologist John Braxton Hicks. Sometimes these contractions are also called prelabor contractions or Hicks sign. Not everyone will notice or experience these contractions, and some will have them frequently. Some mothers say that they notice them more in subsequent pregnancies than in their first pregnancy.

2. 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 do you identify it?

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.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Braxton hicks contractions feel a bit like period pains. They usually just last a few seconds and then go and normally happen at the back end of a pregnancy.

Answer 4

They're just strong contractions. You feel the uterus get hard and then it relaxes again. It happens again the same way. You can put your hand on the top of your belly and feel how hard it is while the contraction is going on. There's no particular pain during them, but they can feel so strong you think you're sure labor is here.

If I remember correctly they are not in any particular timing (such as every five minutes or ever two minutes). They just come willy-nilly. That's one way to know they aren't labor (although some people have such a fast labor that whole timing thing kind of goes out the window for the most part).

A fast labor, though, comes with horrendous pain really quickly; so if pain doesn't show up it isn't labor.

Answer 5

The best way I can explain them is...it feels like the baby balls up in the middle of your stomach. I actually thought it was the baby until my mom told me I was having braxton hicks.

Answer 6

They are stronger than menstral cramps and can vary in length that they last. It can be back pain or front pain. I had the pleasure (notice the sarcasim in that statement) to have back labor with both of my boys and they were both born by c-section because they were too big (8lbs 9/1/2 oz., 19 3/4 inches and 10 lbs. 22 inches). They were 3 1/2 years apart too!

Answer 7

they're very subtle, they go away by walking, originated from lower abdomen

Answer 8

feels like period cramps