Braxton Hicks contractions are the contractions or tightening of the uterine muscles that is experienced by pregnant women. These contractions usually last for 30 to 60 seconds and although they usually start during the sixth week of pregnancy they do not become noticeable till mid pregnancy. Also not all women feel these contractions which are random and, more often than not, painless. The contractions get their name from John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor who first described them in 1872. Doctors and midwives believe that Braxton Hicks contractions are a part of the body getting ready for labor - that is the process of actual child birth and that they get the processes of effacement and dilation going in preparation for delivery. Therefore it can be said that these contractions provide a sample or trailer of the actual process of child birth, and in the process prepare the body for the same.

The problem with these contractions is that they will raise false alarms - especially with those women who are pregnant for the first time. This is due to the fact that they will not know the difference between real labor and Braxton Hicks contractions. Labor contractions are noticeably longer as well as more frequent, regular and painful than Braxton Hicks contractions. Also labor pains will increase in frequency, intensity and duration as time goes on, while Braxton Hicks remain unpredictable and non rhythmatic. As the pregnancy progresses Braxton Hicks contractions become more intense, painful and frequent making them feel like the real thing. However these contractions will still be irregular in intensity, frequency and duration, and will decline and then disappear altogether. That is to say that if the contractions are easing up in any way, they are Braxton Hicks. Therefore the answer that doctors and midwives offer to the question of the difference between the two contractions - “you’ll know real labor when it starts” - though apparently vague is the right one.

Braxton Hicks contractions can make the pregnant woman uncomfortable. These are more likely to occur when the woman does even light physical activity. In such a case it is better to lie down or take a walk, as both these activities will ease the pain. A warm bath can also have the effect of easing the pain. Some health care experts believe that lack of fluids cause the uterus to become more irritable, causing these contractions. Therefore drinking ample quantity of fluids can help reduce the occurrence of these contractions. However if the contractions are accompanied by watery or bloody vaginal discharges doctor should be called. If contractions are accompanied by lower back pain, if there are more than three contractions per hour and if these are coming at regular intervals before 37 weeks of pregnancy then it is essential to call the midwife as these can be symptoms of premature labor. If the pregnancy has gone beyond 37 weeks then there is no need to call the midwife unless the contractions last 60 seconds each and are five minutes apart.