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Last Updated on December 7, 2023 by theosteomum
If you’re pregnant, especially if it’s your first pregnancy, it can be hard to interpret all the new sensations happening in your body.
Braxton Hicks are no exception!
One minute you’re happily going about your business, the next your belly’s gone all hard and pointy… Is this even your body anymore!?!
In this guide we’ll discuss 10 facts for first-time Moms about Braxton Hicks, including the one you’re probably wondering but are too modest to ask- “does constipation cause Braxton Hicks”?
1. What are Braxton Hicks Contractions?
Braxton Hicks are sometimes also called “false labour pains”. They are named after John Braxton Hicks, an Obstetric physician who first documented this type of contraction.
They are caused by contractions of the uterus, but they do not mean that labour has actually begun.
Sometimes mistakenly called “Bracks and Hicks”, Braxton Hicks are usually:
- Irregular in duration and intensity:
Braxton Hicks can occur at any time, and last for any amount of time. They don’t occur at regular intervals, eg. every 10 minutes, and they don’t always last the same amount of time. In other words, they are completely unpredictable.
- Infrequent:
Braxton Hicks shouldn’t occur all that often. Perhaps you’ll experience them a few times a day, but not repeatedly in a short space of time.
- More uncomfortable than painful
They may feel a little strange, but they shouldn’t really hurt.
- Do not increase in frequency, duration or intensity over a short period of time.
However, they do tend to become more common towards the end of the pregnancy overall.
Braxton Hicks symptoms:
Braxton hicks are described differently by different women. Some say they feel like menstrual cramps or “period pain”, while others say they feel like a tightening sensation in their belly.
I remember from my pregnancies that Braxton Hicks would feel like a tensing up sensation in my belly. It would go hard and tight, and the sensation would sometimes stop me in my tracks for the few moments that it lasted. In my experience, though, they weren’t painful.
2. What causes Braxton Hicks?
Braxton Hicks are your body’s way of preparing for labour.
Think of them as a bit of a “practice run” for the real thing. Kinda like your body going to the gym in preparation for the marathon of labour that lies ahead. They may also help in increasing blood flow to the placenta.
No one really knows what causes Braxton Hicks. However, some known triggers include:
- Exercise or being extremely active
- Having a full bladder
- Following sexual activity
- If you’re dehydrated
True contractions are caused by your uterus tightening up to allow your cervix (the opening at the bottom) to dilate, and then to push the baby out. This happens when your body is actually ready to give birth to the baby.
3. Who experiences Braxton Hicks?
Braxton Hicks are present in all pregnancies. However, each woman’s experience is different. Some women don’t actually feel them, and others feel them quite strongly.
4. When do Braxton Hicks start?
Believe it or not, Braxton Hicks actually start at around 6 weeks of pregnancy. However, most women don’t usually feel them until the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
5. How to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks vs Real Contractions:
There are times in every Mom-to-be’s pregnancy when she’ll wonder if she’s actually going into labour.
If you’re at the end of your pregnancy and all is well, this may be exciting for you.
But if you’ve still got some time to go, or there are medical reasons why you can’t go into labour, this can be quite worrying.
But there are some key differences between Braxton Hicks and contractions. Learning these may put your mind at ease if you realise it’s not actually “go time” yet.
1. How often are they occurring?
Braxton Hicks contractions aren’t regular. They do not get closer together over time.
True labour contractions come at regular intervals, and get closer together and stronger over time.
2. How long are they lasting?
Braxton Hicks contractions are unpredictable. They can last anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
True labour contractions last between 30 to less than 90 seconds and become longer over time.
3. How strong are they?
Braxton Hicks contractions are usually weak and either stay the same, or gradually get weaker and then stop.
True labour contractions get stronger over time. You generally won’t be able to ignore them or keep going about your business once they’re fully established.
4. Where can you feel them?
Braxton Hicks contractions are often only felt in the belly area, or locally around one particular area.
True labour contractions can be felt anywhere from your back, to your belly or pelvis.
5. Do they change with movement?
Braxton Hicks contractions may stop if you change your activity or rest, or if you change your position. If you can sleep through it, it’s generally a Braxton Hicks.
True labour contractions keep going, and may even become stronger with movement or position change. Most women can’t sleep through them.
6. Braxton Hicks vs Labor Contractions- are there any medical tests to tell the difference?
There are no specific tests that can be performed to tell the difference between Braxton Hicks vs Contractions.
If your Doctor or midwife is at all unsure, they’ll usually have a feel of your belly, and examine you for other signs of true labour.
7. How do I manage my Braxton Hicks? Can I make them stop?
There are a few things you can try to minimise the discomfort from Braxton Hicks. These include:
- Changing your activity level- if you’ve been very active, try having a rest. If you’ve been sitting for a long time, go for a walk. To find out the safest ways to exercise while pregnant, click here.
- Try some relaxing activities, such as going for a walk, taking a warm bath, having a friend or partner give you a massage or reading a book.
- Emptying your bladder
- Drinking water to help you rehydrate. You can order my favourite, fun drink bottle to help with keeping hydrated here.
If these remedies don’t decrease the Braxton Hicks, or if they continue to become more frequent or intense, contact your Doctor or Midwife.
8. What signs or symptoms do I need to watch out for? When should I call my Doctor or midwife?
If you experience any of the following, you should contact your Doctor or Midwife immediately:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Leaking of fluids from your vagina
- Strong, regular contractions
- Contractions that you can’t “walk through”
- A noticeable change in foetal movements, or less than 10 movements in 2 hours
These can be signs that you’ve gone into true labour, or of other possible complications. Your Doctor or Midwife will be able to ask you some more specific questions, and work out what you need to do from there.
Don’t be concerned that you’re overreacting- your Medical team would always rather hear from you than have you dismiss potentially dangerous symptoms.
9. Can constipation cause Braxton Hicks?
As you may have already realised, constipation is a pretty common feature of pregnancy. Once again, we can blame this on- you guessed it- hormones!
Hormonal changes slow down your digestive tract, which can lead to constipation, as well as another unwanted symptom- gas.
Sometimes this gas can build up to a point where it makes you quite uncomfortable. Whilst this may feel similar to Braxton Hicks at times, constipation does not cause Braxton Hicks.
Simple remedies such as increasing your fibre intake, drinking prune juice and a whole lot of water can help get things moving.
Braxton Hicks can sometimes be confused with cramps you may get when you need to poop. Although the contractions of your uterus may at times act like a bit of a massage to your bowel, the two processes are quite separate and usually feel quite different. Constipation doesn’t usually cause either Braxton Hicks or regular contractions. If anything, many women find that their bowels loosen as their bodies prepare to go into labour.
10. Do Braxton Hicks make you poop?
Whilst for some women pregnancy can spell constipation, for others, the opposite is true.
Some women experience looser bowels due to hormonal changes and a baby whose movements can act like an internal massage on your digestive tract.
Braxton Hicks can increase the feeling of needing to poop in some women. This is similar to the gut disturbances that you may have in the first day or so of having your period.
11. Are Braxton Hicks a sign that my baby will arrive early?
Braxton Hicks are a normal part of pregnancy, and do not mean that your baby is arriving early.
If you’re still not sure if what you’re feeling are Braxton Hicks or contractions, have another read of the differences between them outlined above.
Other signs that you may be heading into true labour include things like a “bloody show” or loss of your mucus plug, diarrhoea, or your water breaking.
If you experience any of these, or any of the symptoms discussed in Section 8 above, call your Doctor or Midwife.
12. Are Braxton Hicks worse at night?
The short answer is- sometimes.
Some women may notice that they feel their Braxton Hicks are worse at night.
Some women may feel Braxton Hicks only at night.
There are a few possible reasons for this.
Firstly, when you’re laying in bed, you’re not distracted by other things in the same way you are during the day. So you’re more likely to notice Braxton Hicks when they do occur.
Secondly, most pregnant women are all-too-familiar with needing to pee what feels like 50 times a night. We’ve already learned that a full bladder can be a trigger for Braxton Hicks. This combination can be another reason why you’re more likely to feel Braxton Hicks at night.
Finally, another possible trigger for Braxton Hicks is sexual activity.
When does this (mostly) occur?
In bed, at night!
This coincidence is yet another reason why you’re more likely to feel Braxton Hicks at night, when in fact they can actually occur at any time of the day.
The takeaway:
It can be difficult, especially for first-time Moms, to determine what’s what when it comes to sensations such as Braxton Hicks in pregnancy.
Knowing what triggers them, how they should feel and how long they should last, can help you determine if what you’re feeling truly are Braxton Hicks, or if you should speak to your Doctor or Midwife.
