Who came up with the name "Braxton Hicks" anyway?

Question

I know those are the pre-labour pains ...little cramps that dont turn into labour...aka false labour...but why are they called Braxton Hicks anyway?

Figures...named after a MAN..yeah right..lol

Answer 1

Wikipedia is your friend.

"Braxton Hicks are named after the English doctor who first described them. In 1872, John Braxton Hicks investigated the latter stages of pregnancy..."

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

Answer 2

Braxton Hicks' contractions, also known as false labour (British English, false labor in American English) or practice contractions. Braxton Hicks are sporadic uterine contractions that actually start at about 6 weeks, although one may not feel them that early. Most women start feeling them 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. 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