Dear April members:

Saradha brought my attention to Braxton Hicks Contractions and her conern on if they are like preterm labor. Here is what I offered her and thought would paste as a fresh thread to get everyone from this group to pay some attentions, in case they did have similar concern.

tighening of tummy, or slight streched feelings from waist line to top of vagina are braxton hicks contractions. Some could face right from the completion of 20th week and frequency may increased in last 4-6 weeks. They were earlier mistaken for false labor and still it continues to be mistaken especially with first time mothers and those get concerned with every single concern. I know most of us do get concerned with tiny things during pregnancy but some have rational mind set and want to take things easy- I call them relaxed expectant parents and perhaps the good way to deal with pregnancy than getting overly anxious which can be bad.

painless tightness or tummy or slightly painful contractions can often be BHC.
They are not meant to be appearing with regular interval and may be one day you face them more while other day none or a few.
Also if you change activity then they are expected to fade away, e.g. you faced while seating then taking a small walk would stop them or vice versa.
Remember sometime slightly painful contraction can also be from little dehydration so drinking some water or suitable fluid is a good idea when facing BHC.

Also do not get alarmed unless contractions are persistant for over an hour and they are appearing with regular interval like each 10 minutes a part and have faced six or more than them in an hour. It could be sign of labor. However, facing over six BHC sort of contractions and they appeared in less than hour and stopped all of sudden means they are BHC. This means sometime one may face them little more frequent than other time.

Facing BHC is good thing but not certainty of easiness of labor or vaginal birth. It may help effacing cervix but in some cases it may not offer help in effacement of cervix so this may not be estimated as help for labor, though in many cases its considered to be good sign as body get to know how to deal with when its real time. In some cases frequent BHC in last stage of pregnancy might help effacing cervix.

I am certain over 98% wants vaginal birth but let me tell each one that dont be stubborn on vaginal birth leave that to circumstances and hope for having a healthy baby:-) Thats all matters down the day.

Archie Sonal replied. Thanx archie,
For this information. Yesterday when i started feeling contractions The first thing i did was to log in here and check if there were any pointers from u. and then next thing i did was check what to expect when u are expecting-book. and then i called the nurse.
Thanx for being here for all of us! Saradha replied. hi archie

thanx a ton for the pains that u took to explain me in detail and also make an eye-opening to all our other april moms to be.

true - most of the first time expectant moms are more excited and get panic for even small issues.

but for the boards like this and persons like u, we would really feel handicapped.

Thanks again and i wish u and all other friends a very happy, cheerful and prosperous new year - 2007.

cheers
saradha