Braxton Hicks are not painful, but they do feel like the person above said. Or perhaps if you put your hand on your man's bicep as he tightens it. They gradually become more co-ordinated and uncomfortable and morph into labor contractions.
What they felt like to me, was a very painful period. O couldn't get past the pain and nervousness to feel any abdominal tightening or anything like that, but everyone is different....I am 27 weeks now and experienced my first Braxton Hicks contraction last night. I really freaked out because I didnt know what was happening. I thought i was going into premature labor or worse... But then the pain went away as suddenly as it started. First thing in the morning i called my doctor and he assured me that all was well. SO if you experience something that feels like you are having a very painful period and there are no signs of blood or watery discharge then you are probably having one of these lovely "dress rehearsals" for labor...ENJOY!
Everyone feels things differently, but for me when I had Braxton Hicks contractions, by belly tightened and went rock hard for about 30 seconds and felt quite uncomfortable, then stopped, this would happen for ten minutes or so and then stop. I started noticing them from about the 20th week of my pregnancy right up until I had my baby. They are uncomfortable, but it's good to know everything is working as it should be!
Braxton Hicks Contractions are - at the beginning of pregnancy - painless little movements of your baby in your uterus. Although, once you hit about 37 weeks, they are horrible. They are often confused with labor contractions. They become rhythmic and feel like they don't stop. They can be uncomfortable, but they can dilate you. They get their name from an English doctor named John Braxton Hicks who first diagnosed them in 1872.
it feels like the bottom of a girls stumich tightnin up getting ready for labour...x
Braxton Hicks contractions are intermittent weak contractions of a woman's uterus that occur during pregnancy. One can learn more about these contractions on the web at Baby Center.
I think you may be referring to what are called "Braxton-Hicks" contractions.
Braxton Hicks contractions come from a Doctor named John Braxton Hicks. He was the first doctor to ever describe what these type of contractions were. This was back in the mid-late 1800s.
False Labor
Braxton Hicks
Labor contractions are painful and you can't ignore them. If they are not painful then they are just Braxton Hicks.
only in the last trimester when they prepare the uterus for labor and are called Braxton Hicks contractions.
Nope. Only some do. The lucky ones don't. The Braxton Hicks is just the preparation contractions. Letting you know that your baby is almost ready. They contractions come usually after 6 months. My doctor said there not supposed to hurt, but mines did. I thought I was in labor and I went to the doctor and my doctor sent me home saying that they are just Braxton Hicks and there nothing to be worried about.
It could be contractions or it could be false contractions (Braxton Hicks)
Practice contractions. The tightening of your stomach muscles and uterus preparing you for active labor
No it wont dilate the cervix because it is not true labor.
Sometimes they can lead to some cervical change (including dilation, softening of the cervix, etc.). This is why it's important to call your care provider if you are having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions before you reach "full term" (or 37 weeks). On the other hand, even if your Braxton Hicks contractions are dilating your cervix, they might still be helping to rotate your baby into an optimal position for labor or even toning your uterus in preparation for labor. So even the contractions that aren't "real labor" are still doing something!
The eponym for those contractions is Braxton-Hicks.