Braxton Hicks contractions are contractions of the uterus during pregnancy. They are characterized by a painless tightening of the uterus, occurring sporadically and infrequently from approximately the sixth week of pregnancy, although many women do not notice them until more than half-way through the pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions were first documented by John Braxton Hicks, an English obstetrician, in 1872. They are also known as “practice” contractions, because they slowly prepare the uterus for the real contractions it will undergo during labor and delivery.

While Braxton Hicks contractions are harmless, it is difficult for pregnant women to distinguish between them and preterm labor, which can be more serious. If a woman is less than 37 weeks pregnant, she should monitor the Braxton Hicks contractions if there are four or more in a hour. If the Braxton Hicks contractions become rhythmic, painful, or increasingly frequent, accompanied by menstrual-like cramping or abdominal pain, then she should contact her doctor or midwife immediately. These symptoms, along with vaginal bleeding or spotting or watery, mucous discharge that is clear, pink, or blood-tinged are all signs of pre-term labor. Pelvic pressure and lower back pain accompanied by increasing Braxton Hicks contractions are also cause for concern.

After 37 weeks, the baby is considered full term, and Braxton Hicks contractions mean that things are going according to plan. As a woman nears her due date, Braxton Hicks contractions may become more intense, because at this point, they are aiding in getting the cervix “ripened,” or softened and effaced. Once your contractions, Braxton Hicks or regular, are 60 seconds in duration and five minutes or less apart, it is a good idea to call your doctor or midwife. You may be in early labor. Whether it is your first or your fifth child, no one knows how long or fast your labor will be, so it is often better to be safe than sorry. Many a mother has delivered on the way to the hospital or in the emergency room because she had chalked up pre-labor contractions to Braxton Hicks contractions and waited because she was afraid to be sent home.

Most mothers agree that Braxton Hicks contractions can be one of the more uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy. Your doctor will offer many suggestions to make yourself more comfortable while experiencing them. Changing position should help to stop them, and lying on one side is better than lying on your back.

If you are walking when you experience Braxton Hicks contractions, try sitting down, and if you are resting, try getting up and walking. The distraction of physical activity sometimes masks Braxton Hicks contractions. Dehydration is considered to be one of the causes of Braxton Hicks contractions, so drinking a glass of water may help put your uterus to rest. Breathing techniques, a warm bath or shower, and emptying your bladder are all other things to try.

Of course, there are old wives' remedies that claim to alleviate or stop Braxton Hicks contractions. Since these are not medical remedies, a pregnant woman should always consult her doctor before using an herbal remedy. In the “old days,” pregnant women turned to a glass of wine, which inhibits uterine contractions, to help, but now alcohol in any amount is not recommended during pregnancy.

An herbal tea consisting of skull cap or passion flower, fresh ginger, and wild yam is said to relax the uterus and the entire pelvic area. Other herbs used in teas or diluted tinctures that are believed to be remedies for Braxton Hicks contractions include black haw, black cohosh, and cramp bark. While all these remedies may help alleviate the discomfort of pregnancy, it is helpful to remember that Braxton Hicks contractions are doing the important job of priming the uterus for labor.